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Mental health is a resource for daily life and includes our ability to think, feel, act and interact in ways that allow us to cope with challenges that arise while enjoying life. Mental health, as it relates to children and youth, is about healthy social and emotional development as they learn to experience, regulate and express a variety of emotions. Positive mental health in children and youth allow them to be creative, learn, try new things and take risks.
In Canada, more than 800,000 children between the ages of four and 17 experience a mental health condition, for which the majority never receive formal treatment. More than one in five boys and one in three girls report feeling depressed or low at least once or more on a weekly basis.1 It has also been observed that, from grade six to grade 10, the number of children and youth who have confidence in themselves is cut in half. And, 29% of children and youth with a disability have sought medical assistance for mental health issues.2
The recent rise of mental health challenges faced by Canada’s children and youth is matched by a decrease in physical activity participation levels. Only 9% of boys and 4% of girls meet Canada’s Physical Activity Guidelines. The guidelines recommend that children and youth ages five to 17 get at least 60 minutes of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity every day. The activity can be accumulated over the course of the day, in increments of at least 10 minutes each.3
Only a quarter of children with a disability report being active at all, while 59% of youth with a disability report they seldom or never play active games.4
During the after-school time period (3:00 pm – 6:00 pm), sedentary activity is pervasive (e.g., watching television, playing video and computer games). One study found that kids are sedentary 59% of the time between 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm, averaging only 14 minutes of physical activity.5
Tips for talking with children
* Invite the child into a... |