May 23, 2019, CBC: Nunavut kids speak up about 'unacceptable' state of mental health services https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nunavut-mental-health-report-1.5145616 Youth in Nunavut say they don't know how to access mental health services, or what services are available to them — and the territory's representative for children and youth says Nunavut's mental health system is inadequate, unacceptable, and failing to meet the needs of young people. The revelations are part of a 54-page report published Wednesday by the representative's office, in its first systemic review since the office opened in September 2015. The report heard from 225 young Nunavummiut, culminating in 15 recommendations to the Government of Nunavut, spanning five key themes: mental health in schools, in-territory mental health services, mental health workforce, awareness and barriers, and recreational and cultural activities. "If this type of investment and shift does not occur, then we can no longer continue to be shocked by staggering youth suicide statistics, and outraged when hurt and helplessness disguise themselves as undesirable behaviour affecting our communities," said Sherry McNeil-Mulak, Nunavut's representative for children and youth. … Mental health in schools While the report is wide-ranging, one prominent section zeroed in on clinical mental health services within schools. In short, there aren't any. "We repeatedly heard about the need to have mental health services available in schools," the report reads. "This was one of the top responses from youth when we asked what would make mental health services even better in Nunavut." … Barriers accessing services Even getting students mental health support that is already available in schools can be a struggle…. The report is calling for more investments to recruit mental health workers, with specific training to work with young people, and investing in local skill development to curb the transient nature of Nunavut's mental health workforce. …
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Childhood Lost
Children today are noticeably different from previous generations, and the proof is in the news coverage we see every day. This site shows you what’s happening in schools around the world. Children are increasingly disabled and chronically ill, and the education system has to accommodate them. Things we've long associated with autism, like sensory issues, repetitive behaviors, anxiety and lack of social skills, are now problems affecting mainstream students. Blame is predictably placed on bad parenting (otherwise known as trauma from home).
Addressing mental health needs is as important as academics for modern educators. This is an unrecognized disaster. The stories here are about children who can’t learn or behave like children have always been expected to. What childhood has become is a chilling portent for the future of mankind.
Anne Dachel, Media editor, Age of Autism
http://www.ageofautism.com/media/
(John Dachel, Tech. assist.)
What will happen in another 4 years? How can we go on like this? This is a national (and international) problem of monumental proportions. We have an entire new class of children who cannot be accommodated by the system: many are manifestly neurologically impaired. Meanwhile, the government and the medical profession sleep on regardless.
John Stone,
UK media editor, Age of Autism
The generation of American children born after 1990 are arguably the sickest generation in the history of our country.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
It seemed to me that with rising autism prevalence, you’d also see rising autism costs to society, and it turns out, the costs are catastrophic.
They calculated that in 2015 autism cost the United States $268 billion and they projected that if autism continues at its current rate, we’re looking at one trillion dollars a year in autism costs by 2025, so within five years.
Toby Rogers, PhD, Political economist
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