Percentage of First Nations children* aged 0 to 11 years who were diagnosed with a mental health condition or disorder and are undergoing treatment, by type of condition or disorder, Canada, 2015/2016 – The Health of Canada’s Children and Youth

6.7.7 Percentage of First Nations children* aged 0 to 11 years who were diagnosed with a mental health condition or disorder and are undergoing treatment, by type of condition or disorder, Canada, 2015/2016

Chart
Table

	Anxiety	Mood disorder	Attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder	Autism spectrum disorder	Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder
Type of Mental Health Condition	39.5	44	58.8	75.2	46.7

*Living on reserve and Northern Communities

Source: CICH graphic created using data adapted from the First Nations Information Governance Centre, National Report of the First Nations Regional Health Survey Phase 3: Volume One, (Ottawa: 2018). 200 pages. Published in March 2018.

Less than half of First Nations children aged 0 to 11 years who were diagnosed with a number of mental health conditions were receiving treatment in 2015/16.

40% of First Nations children aged 0 to 11 years who were diagnosed with anxiety disorder were receiving treatment.

That was the case for 44% of those diagnosed with a mood disorder.

59% of First Nations children aged 0 to 11 years who were diagnosed with attention deficit disorder/attention deficit hyperactivity disorder were receiving treatment, as were 75% of those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

47% of First Nations children in the same age group who were diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder were receiving treatment.

Implications
Challenges in accessing mental health care services (especially in remote rural locations), including limited mental health care providers, healthcare provider retention and shortage problems, limited knowledge about mental health by generalist healthcare practitioners, and limited cultural safety in health care settings, can limit care and treatment for children and youth with mental health challenges.¹

¹Boksa, P., Joober, R., & Kirmayer, L.J. (2015). Mental wellness in Canada’s Aboriginal communities: striving toward reconciliation. Journal of Psychiatry & Neuroscience, 40(6), 363-365.