A report by BC's Representative for Children and Youth is predicting young people will suffer anxiety, depression and PTSD because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The representative surveyed dozens of studies on the effects of pandemics and natural disasters on the mental health of children and youth.  Dr. Pamela Charlesworth says stories she's hearing about how young people are reacting after being cut off from friends, classmates and loved ones since the start of the pandemic mirror the research literature.

Charlesworth says the effects of the pandemic are even more devastating for indigenous children, those in foster care and those who live in poverty due to the added stress of food or home insecurity.  She says finding help for kids is challenging because of long wait lists and a lack of programs in many communities.  She estimates half of the nearly 100,000 children and youth in BC who need mental health supports are not getting them.  Charlesworth is calling on the provincial government to increase supports for youth as part of its pandemic recovery plan.