Dr. Drouin Shared Alarming Statistics About Young Montrealers' Pandemic Mental Health

They're struggling more than other age groups.
Reporter

In a press conference on October 21, Montreal public health director Mylène Drouin recognized the mental health impacts of COVID-19 on the city's young population. 

She said that over 45% of young Montrealers — aged 18 to 29 — believe they have mental health issues resulting from COVID-19 related issues, according to a survey by the city's public health department.

Comparatively, the same was true for 36% of people aged 30-49 and 31% of people aged 50-64.

Young people aged 20 to 29 have consistently remained the age group with the highest proportion of COVID-19 cases in Quebec at 16.4%.

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If you have a young adult in your family, be concerned that they may be living [through] a difficult period in their life.

Montreal public health director Mylène Drouin, in a press conference on October 21

According to Drouin, young people are concerned about the pandemic and they recognize the importance of public health measures put in place to prevent the transmission of the virus.

Drouin said that over one-third of young people have lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic.

Young Montrealers were also overrepresented in the city's observations of residents who are struggling to pay food and rent as a result of the pandemic, said Dr. Drouin. 

Drouin said the city of Montreal is launching a strategy geared toward young adults to help them better manage anxiety induced by the pandemic.

  • Lea Sabbah
  • Lea Sabbah was a Staff Writer for MTL Blog. Previously, Lea was a radio host on CJLO 1690 AM and her work has been published by Global News, the Toronto Star, Le Devoir and the National Observer. In 2019, she was part of the investigative team that uncovered lead in Montreal's drinking water — a story which won Quebec's Grand Prix Judith-Jasmin. She's a graduate of the journalism program at Concordia University.

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