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Number of children and youth hospitalizations, age 5 to 24

In 2019, there were 39,801 children and youth hospitalizations for mental health disorders. There were an additional 146,845 children and youth hospitalizations for all other conditions. In 2020, there were 36,708 children and youth hospitalizations for mental health disorders. There were an additional 122,996 children and youth hospitalizations for all other conditions. 

The proportion of hospitalizations that were for mental health disorders increased from 21% in 2019 to 23% in 2020. 

Nearly 1 in 4 hospitalizations for children and youth age 5 to 24 were for mental health conditions in 2020.

In 2020, Kids Help Phone reported twice as many interactions (phone calls, texts, use of self-directed help resources) across Canada compared with 2019.Reference1 

Children and youth hospitalizations for mental health disorders, by sex

In 2020, 58% of hospitalizations for mental health disorders for children and youth age 5 to 24 were for females and 42% were for males. Females age 15 to 17 were 2 times more likely to be hospitalized as males the same age.

Children and youth dispensed mood and anxiety medications per 100,000, age 5 to 24

There has been a steady increase in the use of mood and anxiety medication by children and youth age 5 to 24 in the past 5 years.* In 2016, the rate of medication use was 6,071 per 100,000. It increased to 6,461 per 100,000 in 2017, 6,714 per 100,000 in 2018, 7,109 per 100,000 in 2019, and 7,372 per 100,000 in 2020.

In 2020, rates were more than 2 times higher for females than males.

Note
* Includes all drugs dispensed in community pharmacies in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.

Hospitalizations for eating disorders for children and youth, age 10 to 17

The rate of hospitalizations for eating disorders was 1.6 times higher in 2020 compared with 2019 for females age 10 to 17.
Potential explanations for this increase include disruptions to daily routines, fewer physical activities, poor social supports and increased exposure to media and social media.Reference2 

Neighbourhood income quintiles and hospitalizations, 2020 

More than one-quarter of the children and youth hospitalized for all mental health conditions live in the least-affluent neighbourhoods. In 2020, 27% of children and youth lived in the lowest income quintile neighbourhoods, 20% lived in the second lowest income quintile neighbourhoods, 19% lived in the middle income quintile neighbourhoods, 18% lived in the second highest income quintile neighbourhoods and 17% lived in the highest income quintile neighbourhoods.

However, one-third of children and youth hospitalized for eating disorders live in the most-affluent neighbourhoods. In 2020, 13% of children and youth lived in the lowest income quintile neighbourhoods, 14% lived in the second lowest income quintile neighbourhoods, 17% lived in the middle income quintile neighbourhoods, 22% lived in the second highest income quintile neighbourhoods and 33% lived in the highest income quintile neighbourhoods.

Sources

Hospitalizations

Discharge Abstract Database and Ontario Mental ºìÁì½í¹Ï±¨ Reporting System, 2019–2020 to 2020–2021, Canadian Institute for ºìÁì½í¹Ï±¨ Information.

Population estimates: Statistics Canada, Demography Division.

Medication

National Prescription Drug Utilization Information System, 2016–2017 to 2020–2021, Canadian Institute for ºìÁì½í¹Ï±¨ Information.

Population estimates: Statistics Canada, Demography Division.

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