Minister for Women and Gender Equality's appearance at the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women (November 14, 2022)

Youth Mental Health and Gender Equality

Issue/question:

How does the issue of mental health intersect with gender inequality?

Suggested response:

Mental illness can affect all people; however, systemic inequalities, such as gender inequality, can exacerbate mental health challenges and symptoms of mental illness for women, girls, gender-diverse and non-binary people. Gender inequality and rigid gender norms influence the lived experiences of youth every day. However, some youth are impacted differently or disproportionately, depending on their intersecting identity factors. When youth feel pressure to conform to rigid gender norms or experience the effects of gender inequality in their daily lives, they may develop negative mental health outcomes. The Government of Canada is committed to improving youth mental health by addressing systemic barriers and providing support. Key investments announced in Budget 2021, being delivered by Health Canada include: $100M over 3 years, starting in 2021-22, to support the mental health of Canadians most affected by COVID-19; $62M in 2021-22 for the Wellness Together Canada portal; and, $45M over 2 years, starting in 2021-22, to develop national standards for mental health care.

Key information:

WAGE has funded various projects and organizations that seek to improve the mental health experience of young women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ youth.

Investment

• Through Budget 2018, WAGE received $7.2M over 5 years for the National Conversations on Gender Equality with Young Canadians.

Results

• Through National Conversations on Gender Equality with Young Canadians initiative, a National Youth Working Group, made up of 22 diverse youth from across the country, provided recommendations on engaging young people on gender equality.

Project examples

• Plan International Canada: Power Within project ($1.5M). This project will challenge norms and presentations that affect body confidence and self-esteem of young people, especially girls and gender-diverse youth, in order to create more supportive environments at the community and systemic levels.
• Five Indigenous organizations are leading projects for the Indigenous stream of the National Conversations on Gender Equality with Young Canadians A total of $400,000 for each organization over 4 years (total $2M) is being provided to co-develop, with Indigenous youth, an approach to engage Indigenous youth across Canada in dialogue on gender equality and to take action to support an inclusive society. The following five Indigenous organizations are receiving funding:
  • Congress of Aboriginal Peoples
  • Les femmes Michif Otipemisiwak (Women of the Métis Nation)
  • National Association of Friendship Centres
  • Native Women’s Association of Canada
  • Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada
• River East Transcona School Division (Winnipeg): What Indigenous Girls Need to Feel Safe and Succeed in School ($292K). This project will address the graduation rate gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous girls, their mental health experiences in school, experiences of discrimination and lower rates of leadership.

Background:

• Systemic barriers to advancing gender equality have the potential to significantly impact young Canadians’ mental health. Some youth are impacted differently or disproportionately, depending on intersectional identity factors (e.g. gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, race, Indigeneity, etc). For example:
  • Young Indigenous women are less likely to report that their mental health is excellent or very good (40.5%) compared with young Indigenous men (58.1%).
  • Young Indigenous women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with a mood disorder (26.2% versus 11.8%) and are more likely to have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder (32.6% versus 15.3%).
  • 2SLGBTQI+ youth (16-24) report notably high rates of mental health struggles – with 60% reporting moderate-to-severe anxiety, 41% reporting symptoms of depression and nearly 30% reporting suicidal thoughts.
• Rigid gender norms can place undue expectations on youth. When they are not able to conform to these gender stereotypes, they may develop negative mental health outcomes, such as: low body-confidence, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and suicidal ideation. For example:
  • Young women and girls may internalize norms on the ideal feminine body. These norms can lead young women and girls to develop mental health challenges, such as anxiety, depression, and eating disorders, amongst others, when they feel pressure to try to conform with these norms.
  • Young men and boys are often expected to, or believe that they should, hide their emotions. This real or perceived expectation may lead men to feel like they cannot reach out for help when they experience hardship.
  • Young gender diverse and non-binary people may face particular challenges when they feel they must comply with rigid gender norms or when they face backlash for their noncompliance.
• Increased access to and participation in media can lead to negative mental health outcomes for young people. Similarly, the media itself also has a role to play in creating and promoting unhealthy environments for youth that can in turn lead to negative mental health outcomes.
  • Spending more time online, young women and youth from 2SLGBTQI+ communities can be subjected to messaging that promotes unattainable body standards and gender policing.
  • Some social media are known to target youth through algorithms, which may increase the frequency of specific types of content that can be harmful to youth mental health.
• The fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic has also included negative mental health outcomes for youth. Over the course of the pandemic, young women and girls were more likely to be spending time alone, have decreased participation in physical activity and sport, and were more likely to have increased time spent online using social media platforms to stay connected. The impact of the pandemic led to increased social isolation, with young women and girls more likely to report adverse mental health experiences than young men and boys.
  • During the pandemic, the prevalence of positive screens for a major mental health disorder were over three times higher among young adults than among older adults. 24% of young women screened positive for at least one disorder compared to 17% of young men.
  • In general, youth in Canada have reported worse mental health outcomes than older age groups, both before and since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Just over 40% of Canadian youth aged 15 to 24 reported having excellent or very good mental health in late March and early April 2020, compared with 62% in 2018 – the largest drop of any age group.
• The issue of homelessness and mental health are interconnected. The stress of being homeless may exacerbate a mental illness, while the difficulties of being homeless may encourage anxiety or depressive disorders.
  • For example, young women who experience homelessness have significantly poorer mental health than cisgender young men, and a higher suicide attempt rate (59% v. 39%).
• Health Canada leads the federal government’s efforts to address the mental health of Canadian youth. Budget 2021 included:
  • $100M over 3 years, starting in 2021-22, to support projects for innovative mental health interventions for populations most impacted by COVID-19, which include youth;
  • $62M in 2021-22 for the Wellness Together Canada portal, a service where more than half of users are between ages 19­29; and,
  • $45M over 2 years, starting in 2021-22, to develop national standards for mental health care.

Key statistics on mental health and gender

Self-perceived mental health

• In 2020, 61.1% of females aged 12 years and older reported that they perceived their mental health as very good or excellent, compared to 69.1% of males aged 12 years and older who reported the same.
• In 2020, 10.8% of females aged 12 years and older reported that they perceived their mental health as fair or poor, compared to 8.6% of males aged 12 years and older who reported the same.

Mood Disorders

• In 2020, 11.1% of females aged 12 years and older reported having been diagnosed by a health professional as having a mood disorder (such as depression, bipolar disorder, mania, or dysthymia), compared to 6.9% of males aged 12 years and older who reported the same.

COVID-19

• Women, and other equity-deserving individuals and communities have experienced notable mental health challenges during the pandemic, with women (57%), gender-diverse people (71%), youth (64%), Indigenous peoples (60%), persons with long-term conditions or disabilities (57%) and newcomers (52%) reporting worsening mental health.
• The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health conducted research to examine feelings of depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to this research, 1 in 5 (20.4%) respondents reported feeling depressed in the past 7 days. A greater proportion of women (24.5%) than men (16.3%) reported feeling depressed in the past 7 days.
• During the pandemic, the prevalence of positive screens for a major mental health disorder were over three times higher among young adults than among older adults. 24% of young women screened positive for at least one disorder compared to 17% of young men.
• In general, youth in Canada have reported worse mental health outcomes than older age groups, both before and since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Just over 40% of Canadian youth aged 15 to 24 reported having excellent or very good mental health in late March and early April 2020, compared with 62% in 2018 – the largest drop of any age group.

Indigenous Women

• In 2019, compared with the non-Indigenous population (68%), Indigenous people were less likely to report very good or excellent mental health (54%) and experienced a sharper decline since 2015 (9% versus 5%). Indigenous women (49%) were less likely than Indigenous men (59%) to report very good or excellent mental health.
• Young Indigenous women are less likely to report that their mental health is excellent or very good (40.5%) compared with young Indigenous men (58.1%).
• In 2019, nearly one-quarter of both Métis (24%) and Inuit living outside Inuit Nunangat (24%) and 31% of First Nations people living off reserve reported a mood or anxiety disorder. Each of these Indigenous groups was twice as likely as the non-Indigenous population (13%) to have a diagnosed mood or anxiety disorder. Within the Indigenous population, women (35%) were much more likely than men (19%) to report a mood or anxiety disorder.
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, 4 in 10 (40%) Indigenous respondents described most of their days as “quite a bit stressful” or “extremely stressful” (vs. 27% of non-Indigenous participants). Almost half (46%) of Indigenous women participants and one-third (32%) of Indigenous men participants described most of their days as “quite a bit stressful” or “extremely stressful.”
• Indigenous women and girls living in very remote areas are less likely to report very good or excellent perceived health (43.0%) than those in easily accessible areas (53.0%).
• Young Indigenous women are more likely than men to be diagnosed with a mood disorder (26.2% versus 11.8%) and are more likely to have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder (32.6% versus 15.3%).
• Between 2011-2016, suicide rates among Indigenous people were significantly higher than the rate among non-Indigenous people: approximately nine times higher among Inuit (72.3 versus 8.0 deaths per 100,000 person-years at risk); three times higher among First Nations people (24.3 deaths per 100,000 person-years at risk); and about twice as high among Métis (14.7 deaths per 100,000 person-years at risk). Suicide rates and disparities were highest in youth and young adults (15 to 24 years) among First Nations males and Inuit males and females.

Remote Areas

• Very remote areas (the least accessible areas) have the lowest proportion of women and girls who report very good or excellent mental health (55.8%).
• The highest prevalence of Indigenous women and girls who consulted a health care professional about their emotional or mental health in the past year is in easily accessible areas (34.2%). The percentages are smaller in areas with higher level of remoteness and is lowest for those living in remote (22.2%) and very remote (19.5%) areas.

Young women

• In 2016, 16% of young men and 12% of young women reported experiencing at least one aspect of social isolation.
• In 2019, for youth aged 15-30 years, suicide ideation was lower for Canadians who belonged to groups designated as visible minorities than for White Canadians (12.9%, versus 19.9%), especially for women (12.8%, versus 23.2%). Suicide ideation for Black Canadians specifically was even lower, at 10.0%.
• Rates of mood disorder are highest among youth aged 15 to 30 years compared to other age groups: young women in particular have the highest rate (12%).
• There has been a steady increase in the use of mood and anxiety medication by children and youth aged 5 to 24. In 2020, rates were more than two times higher for young women compared to young men.
• In 2017, among youth with disabilities who were neither in school nor employed, 87% had a mental health-related disability, a learning disability, or both.
• In 2019, more female youth reported ‘fair’ or ‘poor’ mental health than male youth. For instance, girls aged 12 to 14 years (10%) were more than twice as likely as same-aged boys (4%) to report ‘fair’ or ‘poor’ mental health. This difference was more pronounced among youth aged 15 to 17 years, with 24% of girls and 10% of boys reporting ‘fair’ or ‘poor’ mental health.
• In May 2020, youth (27%) were more likely to report symptoms of moderate or severe anxiety in the previous two weeks, compared with middle-aged adults (19%) and seniors (10%).
• Young women who experience homelessness have significantly poorer mental health than cisgender young men, and a higher suicide attempt rate (59% v. 39%).
• In 2020, among hospitalizations for mental health disorders for children and youth aged 5 to 24, 58% were female and 42% were male. Young women aged 15 to 17 were 2 times more likely to be hospitalized compared to young men the same age.

2SLGBTQI+

• In 2018, 2SLGBTQI+ people in Canada were more likely than heterosexual people to report that they consider their mental health to be poor or fair (32% versus 11%). They were also more likely to have seriously contemplated suicide in their lifetimes (40% versus 15%) and to have been diagnosed with a mood or anxiety disorder (41% versus 16%). Given the high proportion of youth aged 15-24 among the 2SLGBTQI+ population (30%), there are unique concerns regarding the mental health and well-being of 2SLGBTQI+ youth.
• In 2019, 58% of people aged 15 years and older identifying as gay or lesbian and 37% of those identifying as bisexual reported very good or excellent mental health, both of which were significantly lower than the proportion of those identifying as heterosexual who reported the same (68%).
• In 2019, compared to the general population, transgender and gender non-conforming people in Canada were 5 times more likely to attempt suicide and to have mental health issues.
• In 2019, just over one in five Canadians aged 15 years and older identifying as gay or lesbian (21%) reported having a diagnosed mood or anxiety disorder. For those identifying as bisexual, the proportion was 43%, this is more than three times the rate reported by those identifying as heterosexual (13%).
• During the COVID-19 pandemic, gay or lesbian people (19.2%) and bisexual people (40.4%) were more likely to report having been diagnosed with a mood or anxiety disorder than heterosexual people (11.4%).
• 2SLGBTQI+ youth (16-24) report notably high rates of mental health struggles – with 60% reporting moderate-to-severe anxiety, 41% reporting symptoms of depression and nearly 30% reporting suicidal thoughts.
• 2SLGBTQI+ youth homelessness and mental health
  • 2SLGBTQI+ youth are overrepresented in the homeless youth population. According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), identity-based family conflict is the primary cause of 2SLGBTQI+ youth homelessness.
  • Due to homelessness, 2SLGBTQI+ youth are also more likely to experience mental health problems, substance use, suicide, and physical and sexual exploitation:
  • 2SLGBTQI+ homeless youth frequently experience stigma and discrimination in youth servicing agencies, housing programs, and shelters. Accessing the services of these organizations can be particularly troublesome for youth with non-dominant gender identities.
  • 2SLGBTQI+ cultural competency training is generally not mandatory for housing and homelessness agencies in Canada (youth or otherwise). However, 2SLGBTQI+ youth are more likely to be involved with child protection services than heterosexual youth.
• Findings from the 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan engagement process (2020-21)
  • Only 15% of respondents had access to 2SLGBTQI+-specific mental health services whether or not they needed it, and 17% of respondents reported having no access to mental health services at all.
  • In general, younger respondents were less likely to have access to 2SLGBTQI+-specific mental health services. For example, only 11% of respondents aged 16-17 and 12% of respondents aged 18-24 reported having access to services, versus 21% of respondents aged 55-64.
  • Bisexual respondents (12%) and Asexual (12%) respondents were least likely to have access to 2SLGBTQI+-specific mental health services whether or not they needed them, as were Latin American respondents, Middle Eastern & North African respondents (26% respectively), and Black African respondents (25%).
  • In written submissions, organizations noted that bisexual people, 2SLGBTQI+ youth and 2SLGBTQI+ immigrants face even greater health disparities, especially regarding access to mental health services.

Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

• The 2018 Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces (SSPPS) shows that people who have experienced violence since age 15 are more likely to face mental health issues. For instance:
  • 19% of women in Canada who were physically or sexually assaulted since the age of 15 rated their mental health as fair or poor, compared with 7% of women who had never been assaulted.
  • In the Territories, 27% of women in the Territories who were physically or sexually assaulted since the age of 15 rated their mental health as fair or poor, compared with 10% of women who had never been assaulted.
  • Nearly one-quarter (23%) of Indigenous peoples in Canada (24% of First Nations people, 23% of Métis and 14% of Inuit) who had experienced at least one physical or sexual assault since the age of 15 considered their mental health to be fair or poor, compared with 11% of Indigenous people who had never been victimized.
  • One in five (21%) women in remote communities in Canada who had experienced IPV in the past year described their mental health as fair or poor―twice the proportion as among women who had not experienced IPV (10%).
• Young women and girls who have experienced gender-based violence, have a high risk of distress and immediate or long-term mental health issues such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use issues, or suicidal ideations. For instance:
  • According to the Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces, 12% of women aged 15-24 who had experienced intimate partner violence reported symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
  • According to Survey on Individual Safety in the Postsecondary Student Population, among women at postsecondary institutions who had experienced sexual assault in the previous 12 months, 40.2% felt anxious, 20.5% felt depressed, 7.8% experienced suicidal thoughts, and 25% experienced symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
• Among women in Canadian shelters for victims of abuse in 2020/21, 36% cited mental health issues as one of the top challenges they faced.
• In 2020, more than half (56%) of women who had been sexually assaulted in a work setting in the previous year stated that they had experienced negative emotional impacts, and 14% had experienced psychological symptoms consistent with a clinical diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Mental Health and Indigenous Women and Girls

Issue/question

What is the government of Canada doing to address mental health issues experienced by young Indigenous women and girls, and how can Canada continue to strengthen mental health supports provided to Indigenous women and girls?

Suggested response:

• A unique set of factors affect the mental health of Indigenous women and girls.
• Aside from socioeconomic factors, like lower educational attainment and employment levels, poorer mental health status among Indigenous women and girls may also be attributed to ongoing impacts of intergenerational trauma, systemic racism and discrimination, and high levels of violence experienced by Indigenous women and girls.
• Budget 2021 provided WAGE with $55M over 5 years to bolster the capacity of Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQI+ organizations to provide gender-based violence prevention programming aimed at addressing the root causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people.
• The Government of Canada, largely through Indigenous Services Canada, is committed to improving the mental health of Indigenous women and girls by continuing to provide mental health supports and addressing the unique factors that contribute to negative mental health outcomes.
• And while we address factors that negatively affect mental health, the Government of Canada is also focused on supporting resiliency factors, or factors that are associated with lower suicide rates among Indigenous youth.
  • These include “cultural continuity” through Indigenous language usage; secure Indigenous title to traditional lands; achieving self-governance; enabling control over educational, health care, police and fire services; and establishing cultural facilities to preserve and enrich cultural lives.

Key information:

WAGE has funded various projects and organizations that seek to improve the mental health outcomes of young women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ youth.

Since 2015, the Department has funded over 350 projects, providing more than $150M to projects supporting Indigenous and Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and additional sexually and gender diverse people and communities, representing 31% of all WAGE investments (data excludes COVID funding).

Investment

• Through Budget 2018, WAGE received $7.2M over 5 years for the National Conversations on Gender Equality with Young Canadians.
• Budget 2021 provided $55M to WAGE over 5 years to bolster the capacity of Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQI+ organizations to provide gender-based violence prevention programming aimed at addressing the root causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people.
• A WAGE Call for Proposals to implement this investment closed in March 2022. The announcement and beginning of implementation of successful projects is anticipated in fall 2022. This initiative is a key deliverable under the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ People.

Project examples:

National Conversations on Gender Equality with Young Canadians.

• Five Indigenous organizations are leading projects for the Indigenous stream of the National Conversations on Gender Equality with Young Canadians initiative. A total of $400,000 for each organization over 4 years (total $2M) is being provided to co-develop, with Indigenous youth, an approach to engage Indigenous youth across Canada in dialogue on gender equality and to take action to support an inclusive society. The following five Indigenous organizations are receiving funding:
  • Congress of Aboriginal Peoples
  • Les femmes Michif Otipemisiwak (Women of the Métis Nation)
  • National Association of Friendship Centres
  • Native Women’s Association of Canada
  • Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada
• River East Transcona School Division (Winnipeg): What Indigenous Girls Need to Feel Safe and Succeed in School ($292K). This project will address the graduation rate gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous girls, their mental health experiences in school, experiences of discrimination and lower rates of leadership.

Capacity building of Indigenous women and 2SLGBTQI+ organizations to provide gender-based violence prevention programming

• Native Women’s Association of Canada: Developing Evidence-Based Training to Service Providers, Supporting LGBTQ+ and Two-Spirit Indigenous Survivors of Gender-based Violence ($1M ended March 31, 2022)
  • The project developed and tested training for service providers supporting LGBTQ+ and Two-Spirit survivors of gender-based violence. Training was delivered to over 50 service providers who indicated, through surveys, that they have “increased knowledge of Indigenous healing and resilience practices, and are better able to provide culturally safe and trauma-informed care and services to LGBTQ+ and Two-Spirit people with lived experience of GBV” and “a better understanding of concepts such as cultural safety, decolonization and Two Spirit has resulted in an increased ability to provide safe spaces”.

Background:

• In 2019, compared with the non-Indigenous population (68%), Indigenous people were less likely to report very good or excellent mental health (54%). Indigenous women (49%) were less likely than Indigenous men (59%) to report very good or excellent mental health, and young Indigenous women are even less likely to report that their mental health is excellent or very good (5%) compared with young Indigenous men (58.1%).
• In 2019, nearly one-quarter of both Métis (24%) and Inuit living outside Inuit Nunangat (24%) and 31% of First Nations people living off reserve reported a mood or anxiety disorder. Each of these Indigenous groups was twice as likely as the non-Indigenous population (13%) to have a diagnosed mood or anxiety disorder. Within the Indigenous population, women (35%) were much more likely than men (19%) to report a mood or anxiety disorder.
• Between 2011-2016, suicide rates among Indigenous people were significantly higher than the rate among non-Indigenous people: approximately nine times higher among Inuit, (72.3 versus 8.0 deaths per 100,000 person-years at risk); three times higher among First Nations people (24.3 deaths per 100,000 person-years at risk); and about twice as high among Métis (14.7 deaths per 100,000 person-years at risk). Suicide rates and disparities were highest in youth and young adults (15 to 24 years) among First Nations males and Inuit male and females.
• While immediate supports for mental health continue to be funded, there are indications that investments towards factors that support resiliency can also lower suicide rates among Indigenous youth. These include “cultural continuity” factors such as having a high proportion (50 per cent or higher) of people in the community with knowledge of an Indigenous language. Other factors identified in previous literature as increasing resilience include having adopted measures to (1) secure Indigenous title to traditional lands; (2) achieve self-governance; (3) gain control over educational, health care, police and fire services; and (4) establish cultural facilities to preserve and enrich cultural lives. These factors were identified in First Nations communities in British Columbia; similar studies replicating these findings in other jurisdictions have yet to be published.

Mental Health and Gender-Based Violence

Issue/question

What are the mental health impacts of gender-based violence on young women and girls?

Suggested response:

• Gender-based violence, like other forms of violence, can lead to both immediate and long-term physical and mental health issues.
• Preventing and addressing gender-based violence and the impacts it has on individuals, including on their mental health, requires a coordinated, whole-of-government approach.
• The Government of Canada remains committed to ending gender-based violence by working with and across jurisdictions. On November 9, the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence was launched.
• The endorsement of the National Action Plan by federal, provincial and territorial Ministers responsible for the Status of Women is a concrete step that fulfils a long-standing joint commitment to work together towards a Canada free of gender-based violence.
• The National Action Plan sets a framework for a Canada free of gender-based violence where there are supports for victims, survivors and their families, no matter where they live.

Key information:

Investement

• Women and Gender Equality Canada does not currently fund projects that directly focus on the mental health impacts of gender-based violence (GBV). However, some funded projects may have positive impacts on the mental health of victims and survivors of GBV.

Project examples:

• In Québec, La rue des femmes de Montréal received $1M from March 2019 to September 2022 for a project entitled Santé relationnelle. The project evaluated and demonstrated that the organization's relational health intervention practice is an exemplary model for providing real and effective support to homeless women who are victims and survivors of GBV.
• In Northeastern Ontario, a project entitled The Angels of Hope Against Human Trafficking is receiving $196,880 to develop and implement promising intervention practices for GBV victims and survivors, including Indigenous women and girls, and those facing specific challenges such as sexual exploitation, intergenerational trauma, racism, and colonization.
• In the Prairies, the Regina Treaty/Status Indian Services Inc., situated in Regina, was funded for $200,000, from March 2021 to March 2022 for a Violence Prevention Strategy for Urban Indigenous Women and Children. This project developed and implemented a holistic program delivery approach that addresses the diverse needs of clients to advance knowledge and enhance empowerment supports for at-risk Indigenous women and children.

Background:

• The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Health Canada lead federal efforts on mental health, while Indigenous Services Canada leads the federal response on mental health within Indigenous communities. WAGE works with other departments and agencies to ensure an intersectional approach is applied to federal policies and programs.
• Further, the Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Youth’s mandate letter has directed her to work with the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, and the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions to ensure mental health supports are accessible to children and youth as they recover from the impact of the pandemic.
• PHAC leads the Family Violence Initiative, which is the federal government's main collaborative forum for addressing family violence since 1988. The Family Violence Initiative brings together 12 partner departments and agencies to prevent and respond to family violence. PHAC is also one of the seven funded partners of the federal GBV strategy.
• As outlined in the National Action Plan to End GBV (GBV NAP), provinces and territories (PTs) control the key levers to reach people experiencing GBV, such as delivering health care and social services, including mental health services and supports. Following the launch of the GBV NAP, and using funding from Budget 2022, bilateral agreements will be negotiated with the PTs to enable them to supplement and enhance services within their jurisdictions to prevent gender-based violence and support survivors. PTs may direct federal funding to meet priority needs, which could include mental health services for those experiencing GBV.
• The GBV NAP and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan are aligned and mutually reinforcing. They both aim to prevent gender-based violence, address its root causes, and provide better supports for victims, survivors, and their families, no matter where they live.
• The 2018 Survey of Safety in Public and Private Spaces (SSPPS) shows that people who have experienced violence since age 15 are more likely to face mental health issues. For instance:
  • 27% of women in the Territories who were physically or sexually assaulted since the age of 15 rated their mental health as fair or poor, compared with 10% of women who had never been assaulted.
  • Nearly one-quarter (23%) of Indigenous peoples in Canada (24% of First Nations people, 23% of Métis and 14% of Inuit) who had experienced at least one physical or sexual assault since the age of 15 considered their mental health to be fair or poor, compared with 11% of Indigenous people who had never been victimized.
  • One in five (21%) women in remote communities in Canada who had experienced intimate partner violence in the past year described their mental health as fair or poor―twice the proportion as among women who had not experienced intimate partner violence (10%).
• Young women and girls who have experienced GBV, have a high risk of distress and immediate or long-term mental health issues such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use issues, or suicidal ideations. For instance:
  • According to the SSPPS, 12% of women aged 15-24 who had experienced intimate partner violence reported symptoms consistent with PTSD.
  • According to the Survey on Individual Safety in the Post-Secondary Student Population, among women at post­secondary institutions who had experienced sexual assault in the previous 12 months, 40.2% felt anxious, 20.5% felt depressed, 7.8% experienced suicidal thoughts, and 25% experienced symptoms consistent with PTSD.

2SLGBTQI+ Youth Mental Health

Issue/question

2SLGBTQI+ youth demonstrate poorer mental health outcomes than non-2SLGBTQI+ youth.

Suggested response:

• The Government of Canada understands that 2SLGBTQI+ youth experience significant mental health challenges fueled by stigma and discrimination.
• We are committed to promoting 2SLGBTQI+ equality, protecting 2SLGBTQI+ rights, and addressing discrimination against 2SLGBTQI+ communities.
• In August 2022, Canada’s first Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan was launched to improve equality for 2SLGBTQI+ people and address community issues, including mental health.
• This Action Plan will invest $100M over five years, to build a fairer and more equal Canada for 2SLGBTQI+ Canadians

Key information:

Recent investement

• Budget 2022 committed $100M over five years to implement the Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan. This includes:
  • Up to $75M for 2SLGBTQI+ community organizations that advocate for and serve their communities:
    • $40M in new capacity-building support, prioritizing funding for 2SLGBTQI+ communities experiencing additional marginalization, such as Black, racialized, and Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ communities, 2SLGBTQI+ persons with disabilities, seniors, youth, official language minority communities, and those living in rural communities; and
    • $35M in new project-focused support aimed at addressing specific barriers to 2SLGBTQI+ equality.
  • $7.7M for data collection and community-led policy research to support federal action on 2SLGBTQI+ issues; and
  • $5.6M to develop and implement awareness campaigns that focus on breaking down stigma and ending discrimination for 2SLGBTQI+ Canadians.
• Budget 2021
  • Announced $15M over three years for a new 2SLGBTQI+ Projects Fund to support community-informed initiatives that address key issues facing 2SLGBTQI+ communities; and,
  • Included $7.1M over three years to continue to support the work of the 2SLGBTQI+ Secretariat and enable the continued development of a 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan.

Project examples:

• $299,525 to LGBT YouthLine's Capacity Building Project. LGBT YouthLine is a 2SLGBTQI+ youth-led organization that affirms and supports the experiences of youth (29 and under) across Ontario by providing anonymous peer support and referrals; training youth to provide support to other youth; and, providing resources so youth can make informed decisions.
• $379,920 to Imprint Youth Association Inc., a Fredericton-based registered non-profit that supports 2SLGBTQI+ youth and young adults in their efforts to build a vibrant and engaged community.

Background:

• In February 2021, the Government of Canada announced funding for 76 2SLGBTQI+ community-led projects across Canada through the 2SLGBTQI+ Community Capacity Fund. Of these, 70 were new projects and 6 were amendments for organizations funded in 2019.
• The Government fulfilled its commitment to re-introduce conversion therapy legislation to eliminate the practice within its first 100 days in office. This legislation received royal assent on December 8, 2021, and officially became law in Canada on January 7, 2022.

Findings from the 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan engagement process (2020-21)

• Only 15% of respondents had access to 2SLGBTQI+-specific mental health services whether or not they needed it, and 17% of respondents reported having no access to mental health services at all.
• In general, younger respondents were less likely to have access to 2SLGBTQI+-specific mental health services. For example, only 11% of respondents aged 16-17 and 12% of respondents aged 18-24 reported having access to services, versus 21% of respondents aged 55-64.
• Bisexual respondents (12%) and Asexual (12%) respondents were least likely to have access to 2SLGBTQI+-specific mental health services whether or not they needed them, as were Latin American respondents, Middle Eastern & North African respondents (26% respectively), and Black African respondents (25%).
• In written submissions, organizations noted that bisexual people, 2SLGBTQI+ youth and 2SLGBTQI+ immigrants face even greater health disparities, especially regarding access to mental health services.

2SLGBTQI+ youth homelessness and mental health

• 2SLGBTQI+ youth are overrepresented in the homeless youth population. According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), identity-based family conflict is the primary cause of 2SLGBTQI+ youth homelessness.
• Due to homelessness, 2SLGBTQI+ youth are also more likely to experience mental health problems, substance use, suicide, and physical and sexual exploitation:
  • 2SLGBTQI+ homeless youth frequently experience stigma and discrimination in youth servicing agencies, housing programs, and shelters. Accessing the services of these organizations can be particularly troublesome for youth with non-dominant gender identities.
  • 2SLGBTQI+ cultural competency training is generally not mandatory for housing and homelessness agencies in Canada (youth or otherwise). 2SLGBTQI+ youth are more likely to be involved with child protection services than heterosexual youth

Canadian heritage: Mental Health of Young Women and Girls in Canada

Issue/question

How is the Government listening to the voices of young women and girls on mental health?

Suggested response:

• While the responsibility of health care systems lies with provincial and territorial governments, the Government of Canada recognizes the engagement and advocacy of young people on affordable and quality mental health services.
• Mental health is a top priority for youth in Canada. In particular, we are hearing of youth councils from coast-to-coast-to-coast working to help destigmatize mental illness and promote a society that prioritizes positive mental health.
• The Government of Canada will continue to use informal and formal channels, including the State of Youth Report and the Prime Minister’s Youth Council, to listen to young Canadians, amplify their voices, and work together to build a healthier and inclusive Canada.

Key information:

Investment

• In the last two budgets alone, the Government has made significant investments to support mental health, including for young women:
  • Budget 2021 committed $598 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, to support distinctions-based mental health and wellness strategies co-developed with Indigenous partners; and
  • Budget 2021 also provided $100 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, to support projects for innovative mental health interventions for populations disproportionately impacted by COVID 19, including health care workers, front-line workers, youth, seniors, Indigenous peoples, and racialized and Black Canadians.
  • Budget 2022 committed $140 million over two years, starting in 2022 23, for the Wellness Together Canada portal administered by Health Canada, so it can continue to provide Canadians with tools and services to support their mental health and well-being.
• While the Federal Youth Secretariat does not administer any funding programs, it has a budget of approximately $1.5 million for 2022-23 to continue its activities of providing support, advice, and guidance on the broader youth agenda. This includes continued implementation of Canada’s Youth Policy and the publication of a State of Youth Report every four years, as well as the advocacy work of the Prime Minister’s Youth Council (PMYC).

Results:

• Canada’s first State of Youth Report was released in August 2021 with contributions from over 1000 diverse youth across Canada. The report illustrates how young people are doing, in their own words, based on six youth-identified priority areas, one of which is Health and Wellness.
• State of Youth Report engagement sessions revealed that mental health issues are impacting many youth in Canada.
  • One of the biggest impacts of COVID-19 and related public health measures (such as physical distancing and school closures) was on mental health, particularly for youth.
  • Many other factors have an ongoing impact on mental health such as, socioeconomic status, food insecurity, substance use, cyberbullying etc.
  • Youth mentioned that the lack of mental health education and accessible resources has led to continued stigma around mental health.
  • They also flagged the need for better supports for youth who are affected by bullying, an issue which disproportionately impacts racialized youth, 2SLGBTQI+ youth, youth with disabilities, and those from marginalized communities, including linguistic minorities.
• Members of the PMYC also consider youth mental health a priority. For example:
  • In May 2022, the Council met with the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health. They covered topics such as mental health apps, mental health first aid training, culturally safe supports, peer to peer counselling, and youth-led awareness campaigns.
  • In August 2022, the PMYC consulted with the Youth Council of the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
  • Members of the PMYC will be attending the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership Exchange 2022 in Washington D.C. at the end of October 2022.

Project examples

• Budget 2021 proposed to provide $15 million over three years, starting in 2021-22, to Women and Gender Equality Canada for a new LGBTQ2 Projects Fund dedicated to supporting community-informed initiatives to overcome key issues facing 2SLGBTQI+ communities, such as accessing mental health services. Priorities will be given to proposals which address barriers to equality for underrepresented 2SLGBTQI+ people. This includes 2SLGBTQI+ people who are Indigenous, Black and racialized, youth, low income, living with a disability, or members of an official language minority community.
  • On August 28, 2022, the Government of Canada (Minister WAGEY) launched the first ever Federal 2SLGBTQI+ Action Plan “aimed at advancing rights and equality for Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and additional sexually and gender diverse (2SLGBTQI+) people in Canada”. The plan entails $100M, 75% of which will go to: 2SLGBTQI+ community organizations that advocate for and serve their communities:
    • $40 million in new capacity-building support, prioritizing funding for 2SLGBTQI+ communities experiencing additional marginalization, such as Black, racialized, and Indigenous 2SLGBTQI+ communities, 2SLGBTQI+ persons with disabilities, seniors, youth, official language minority communities, and those living in rural communities; and
    • $35 million in new project-focused support aimed at addressing specific barriers to 2SLGBTQI+ equality.

Background

• In general, youth in Canada have reported worse mental health outcomes than older age groups, both before and since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Just over 40% of Canadian youth aged 15 to 24 reported having excellent or very good mental health in late March and early April 2020, compared with 62% in 2018—the largest drop of any age group. (Source: Youth Mental health in the spotlight again, as the pandemic drags on. Statistics Canada.)
• Young Indigenous women were more likely to have adverse mental health outcomes than men. For example, young Indigenous women were less likely to report that their mental health was excellent or very good (40.5%) compared with young Indigenous men (58.1%). Young Indigenous women were also more likely than men to be diagnosed with a mood disorder (26.2% versus 11.8%) and were more likely to have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder (32.6% versus 15.3%). (Source: Portrait of Youth in Canada. Chapter 4:  Indigenous Youth in Canada)
• Both Indigenous and non-Indigenous women were much more likely than men to have experienced sexual violence during childhood. More than one-quarter (26%) of Indigenous women experienced sexual violence during childhood, nearly three times the proportion of non-Indigenous women (9.2%). (Source: Victimization of First Nations people, Métis and Inuit in Canada. Statistics Canada.)
• Hospitalizations for mental health. In 2020, 58% of hospitalizations for mental health disorders for children and youth ages 5 to 24 were for females and 42% were for males. Females ages 15 to 17 were 2 times more likely to be hospitalized as males the same age. (Source: Children and youth mental health  in Canada. Canadian Institute for Health Information)
• Mood and anxiety medication. There has been a steady increase in the use of mood and anxiety medication by children and youth ages 5 to 24. In 2020, rates were more than 2 times higher for females than males. (Source: Children and youth mental health in Canada. Canadian Institute for Health Information)
• Young women are particularly affected by intimate partner violence (IPV): Three in ten younger women (29% of those between 15-24 years of age) reported having experienced at least one incident of IPV. This is more than double the rate among women between the ages of 25 to 34 or 35 to 44, and close to six times higher than that among women 65 years of age or older. (Source: Intimate partner violence in Canada, 2018: An overview. Statistics Canada)

Key Messages on Affordability Measures to Reduce Parental Stress

Canada Child Benefit:

• The Government introduced the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) to provide increased support for low- to middle-income families with children. Because it is tax-free and based on income, it provides more support to those who need help the most.
• The CCB has helped reduce the number of children living below the poverty line by hundreds of thousands since 2015 by putting more money in the pockets of parents who need it most.
• We provided families with children with a one-time payment in May 2020 of up to $300, as well as the temporary Young Child Supplement in 2021 of up to $1,200, to help offset the effects of the pandemic and the rise in the costs these families faced. These measures have helped families build resilience.
• We recognize the importance of adjusting the CCB to reflect the increasing cost of living. That is why the CCB has been annually indexed since 2018.
• That said, we also recognize the current rate of inflation is creating additional challenges for all Canadians. We will continue to prioritize the needs of children and families.

Early Learning and Child Care:

• The Government of Canada made a transformative investment of over $27 billion over five years, as part of Budget 2021, to build a Canada-wide early learning and Child Care system with provinces and territories.
• Combined with other investments including in Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care, up to $30 billion over five years will be provided in support of early learning and childcare. Adding previous investments announced since 2015, this means that as of 2025-2026, a minimum of $9.2 billion will be provided every year – permanently – for Early Learning and Child Care and Indigenous Early Learning and Child Care.
• Our goal is to bring fees for regulated child care down to $10-a-day on average within five years.
• By the end of 2022, the Government is aiming to reduce average fees for regulated early learning and childcare by 50 per cent to make it more affordable for families. These targets would apply everywhere outside of Quebec, where prices are already affordable through its well-established system.

Additional information:

Canada Child Benefit

• In the 2022-23 benefit year, the maximum annual benefit is $6,997 per child under 6 years of age, and $5,903 per child aged 6 through 17. Families with less than $32,797 in adjusted family net income receive the maximum benefit. This represents a 2.4% increase since the last benefit year (2021-22). Both the maximum benefits and the income thresholds are indexed annually based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
• A family with one child age 5 and one child age 9 with an average family net income of $65,000 will receive $8,553 in 2022-23. This represents $406 more than they would have received in 2021-22 ($8,147).
• The formula for CCB indexation, which uses prices from the previous year, generally works well except in periods of rapidly rising inflation. Benefit increases are currently not keeping up with the rise in the cost of living, but are mitigating them to some extent.
• A foster parent may not be considered primarily responsible for the care and upbringing of a child if the child is legally, physically, or financially maintained by a child welfare agency. In those cases, a children’s special allowance is paid to the agency and the CCB is not available to the foster parent.
• The Children's Special Allowances (CSA) program provides payments to federal and provincial agencies and institutions (such as children's aid societies) that care for children. The monthly amount payable for each child is equal to the maximum amount of the CCB. For eligible children, the CSA payment may also include the Child Disability Benefit. An agency can request that CSA payments be made directly to a foster parent of the child.
• In addition, there is a Child Disability Benefit (CDB) which is a monthly benefit included in the Canada Child Benefit to provide financial assistance to qualified families caring for children who have a severe and prolonged impairment in physical or mental functions. For the 2022-2023 benefit year, the Child Disability Benefit provides $2,985 for each child under the age of 18 who is eligible for the Disability Tax Credit.
• The Department of Finance is the policy lead on the CCB, and the Canada Revenue Agency administers the benefit. ESDC contributes to ongoing policy development by working collaboratively with them and with provincial and territorial governments, to help ensure that the CCB continues to result in strengthened systems of support for all low- to middle-income families with children across Canada.

Early Learning and Child Care

• In total, the Government of Canada is aiming to create approximately 250,000 new childcare spaces through Canada-wide agreements with provinces and territories, and already achieved its goal of creating 40,000 more affordable childcare spaces before 2020 through the 2017-18 and 2019-20 Early Learning and Child Care Agreements. These new licensed spaces will be predominantly among not-for-profit, public, and family-based childcare providers.
• The Government of Canada has signed agreements with every province and territory to deliver on its promise to build a Canada-wide affordable, inclusive, and high-quality early learning and childcare system. All Canada-wide agreements have been published online.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women (FEWO)

The Standing Committee on the Status of Women’s mandate gives it the broad authority to study the policies, programs, expenditures (budgetary estimates), and legislation of departments and agencies, including the Department for Women and Gender Equality, that conduct work related to the status of women and gender equality.

In the 43rd Parliament, the committee studied:

• Sexual misconduct within the Canadian Armed Forces;
• Challenges faced by women living in rural communities;
• Women’s unpaid work;
• Impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on women;
• Midwifery services across Canada; and,
• Implementation of the Pay Equity Act.

During their first meeting of the first session of the 44th Parliament, members agreed that witnesses who appear before the committee would have five minutes to make opening statements. Whenever possible, these opening statements should be submitted to the committee seventy-two hours in advance. This is followed by a question-and-answer period. Questions will proceed in the following order:

Round 1 – 6 minutes each, CPC, LPC, BQ, NDP

Round 2 – 5 minutes each, CPC, LPC, then 2.5 minutes each, BQ, NDP, and subsequently

another 5 minutes each CPC, LPC

The committee also elected Ms. Karen Vecchio (CPC) as Chair, Ms. Sonia Sidhu (LPC) as Vice-Chair and Ms. Andréanne Larouche (BQ) as Second Vice-Chair.

The committee agreed to undertake the following studies:

Resource Development and Violence against Indigenous Women and Girls (started on April 26, 2022)

This study is on the relationship between resource development and increased violence against Indigenous women and girls, as it relates to Calls for Justice 13.4 and 13.5 of the National Inquiry into Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls.

The committee has dedicated six meetings to date on this issue, with the Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth and Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations having appeared on May 20, 2022, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The committee is expected to complete this study on September 22, 2022, and begin the drafting of the committee report, which will be followed by a government response.

C-233 An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Judges Act (violence against an intimate partner) (ended on May 13, 2022)

This private members’ bill is sponsored by Anju Dhillon and Pam Damoff from the Liberal Party of Canada. The first reading was on February 7, 2022, and was debated at second reading on April 29, 2022. It was adopted on April 29 and referred to FEWO.

Three meetings of the committee were dedicated to the examination of Bill C-233. The committee heard the sponsors of the bill, the mother and step-father of Keira Kagan, (who was murdered by her father in the case of a separation and who inspired the bill), as well as the Department of Justice.

The committee began and completed clause-by-clause consideration of Bill C-233, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Judges Act (violence against an intimate partner) on Friday, May 13, 2022. The bill, as amended, was then reprinted for the use of the House of Commons at report stage.

Intimate Partner Violence (ended on April 5, 2022)

This study was on intimate partner and domestic violence, with a wide range of sub-topics in order for the committee to consider additional ways in which the government can contribute to the prevention of intimate partner violence and the protection of women and children fleeing violence.

The committee has dedicated 17 meetings to date on this issue. Department officials from Women and Gender Equality Canada appeared on February 4, 2022 alongside officials from the Department of Justice, and the Minister for Women and Gender Equality appeared on April 1,  2022.

The study ended on April 5, 2022. The committee tabled its report on June 17, 2022. A Government Response is required to be tabled by October 15, 2022.

Mental Health of Young Women and Girls

That the committee undertake the following study as its third study: That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study examining the factors contributing to mental health issues experienced by young women and girls, including, but not limited to, eating disorders, addiction, depression, anxiety, and suicide; that the committee provide attention to the impact of online harms and issues regarding self-esteem in young women and girls; that the committee hear from witnesses for six meetings, including the Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Youth for one hour and the Minister for Mental Health and Addictions for one hour; that the committee consider ways in which the government can continue to strengthen mental health supports for young women and girls; that the committee report its findings to the House; and that, pursuant to Standing Order 109, the government table a comprehensive response to the report.

Human Trafficking

That the committee undertake the following study as its fourth study: That, pursuant to Standing Order 108(2), the committee undertake a study on human trafficking of women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals for sexual exploitation in Canada, including an examination of how to prevent the trafficking of individuals and ways to improve Canadian law enforcement’s capability to apprehend and prosecute perpetrators; that a minimum of eight and a maximum of ten meetings be held on this study; and that the committee report its findings to the House.

FEWO Members

Conservative Party of Canada:

• Karen Vecchio – Chair
• Michelle Ferreri
• Anna Roberts
• Dominique Vien

Liberal Party of Canada:

• Sonia Sidhu – Vice-Chair
• Emmanuella Lambropoulos
• Marc G. Serré
• Jenna Sudds
• Anita Vandenbeld

Bloc Québécois:

• Andréanne Larouche – Vice-Chair

New Democratic Party:

• Leah Gazan