Accidents and preventable accidents are the leading cause of death for Canadian children and in second spot is suicide. The non profit group Children First Canada has released a report leading up to the federal election, highlighting the health and well being statistics for children, which founder Sara Austin says are quite alarming. Canada has one of the highest teenage suicide rates in the world at over 10 per 100-thousand teens. Saskatchewan has high rates of children and youth hospitalized for mental disorders at 705 per 100-thousand in 2017-18. She adds that the majority of Canadians rank this country as being in the top 10 for raising a child, but Canada actually ranks 25th out of 41 OECD countries. Austin is calling for a federal commission for children and youth so there is an independent person and office accountable for our kids. The organization is also promoting a policy framework for the health and well being of children and thirdly, a federal children’s budget to ensure adequate resources. She urges voters to advocate for children and talk to candidates about the importance of taking action on the top 10 threats to childhood.
Top Ten Threats Facing Kids:
1. ACCIDENTS AND PREVENTABLE INJURIES are the leading cause of death for children
2. SUICIDE is the second leading cause of death for Canadian children. Canada was one of the five countries with the highest teenage suicide rates, at a rate of over 10 per 100,000 teens. Saskatchewan has some of the highest rates of children and youth hospitalized for mental disorders (705 per 100,000 in 2017-2018).
3. CHILD ABUSE: One third of Canadians experience some form of child abuse before the age of 16. Child abuse costs Canadians an estimated $23 billion annually.
4. POVERTY: Between 9-12% of Canadian children grow up in poverty, and nearly 50% of Indigenous children. Saskatchewan s child poverty rate is 10.3%. Alberta has the lowest child poverty levels in the country at 5%.
5. INFANT MORTALITY: Canada ranks 30th amongst 44 OECD countries for infant mortality. All European OECD countries have a lower infant mortality rate than Canada s.
6. OBESITY: A quarter of children are obese and only one third get enough daily physical activity. Saskatchewan has the highest rates of child obesity across the country, at 33.4%. PEI has the lowest rates of child obesity across the country: 18.4%.
7. FOOD INSECURITY: More than 10% of families with children under 6 years saying experience food insecurity
8. IMMUNIZATION: A quarter of children are not fully immunized by age two.
9. DISCRIMINATION profoundly impacts the health of Indigenous and racialized children.
10. BULLYING: More than 10 percent of 15-17 year-olds experienced bullying online, and one in five children and youth (age 15-20) experienced cyberstalking, cyberbullying, or both.
