PUBLIC OPINION RESEARCH: LONG TERM EFFECTS OF COVID 19 ON THE LIVES OF CHILDREN IN CANADA

Click here to download the full polling results.

For the last six months, Canada’s attention has been squarely focused on mitigating the many short and long term impacts of COVID-19. But amidst all of the policy discussions to date, one group has been left behind: our children.

Recent data from an Abacus Poll commissioned by Children’s Healthcare Canada  (CHC)  reveals the vast majority of Canadians are deeply worried about the future of our country’s children and youth. Of those polled, 92% fully believe children should be a priority as the Canadian government develops its COVID-19 recovery plan, and beyond, 70% of respondents expecting the pandemic to have long-term effects on children.  

The findings indicate a striking and widespread concern, with Canadians seeing the most negative impacts in children’s formal education (70%), mental health and wellbeing (66%) and their social and emotional development (66%). Additionally, a notable 62% felt the pandemic has increased inequality between families depending on household income and wealth.  

These troubling numbers come just days after UNICEF Canada’s report ranking Canada 30th of 38 countries based on measures of children’s mental and physical health, education and the health of their relationships, while also noting that we have one of the highest rates of adolescent suicide in the world. 

But there is still time for positive change. Today, Children’s Healthcare Canada formally calls on the federal government to:

  • Invest $300 million to increase access to mental and physical health services for children

  • Invest $30 million in maternal and child health research

  • Invest $8 million to create an office for a federal Commissioner for Children and Youth.

Ann Watkins