Ottawa is seeing a significant jump in the number of children and teens reaching out for mental health support, according to new intake data that's raising concern among local families and service providers.
The numbers come from 1Call1Click, the regional access point that connects Ottawa-area kids, youth, and their families to mental health and addictions services. Intakes through the service have climbed 69 per cent since 2021-22, a sharp increase that points to growing demand, and growing need, among young people in the capital.
What the data shows
1Call1Click acts as a front door for families across Ottawa trying to figure out where to turn when a child is struggling. Whether it's anxiety, depression, behavioural challenges, or something more urgent, the service is often the first stop before a young person is connected to a therapist, counsellor, or specialized program. A near-70 per cent rise in intakes over just a few years suggests more Ottawa parents and caregivers are recognizing warning signs earlier, but it also signals that more kids are struggling in the first place.
Why it matters for Ottawa families
For parents across the city, from Barrhaven to Orleans to the downtown core, this data adds hard numbers to what many have already sensed anecdotally: kids are having a harder time, and they need more support than in years past. Local pediatricians, school boards, and community health centres have all flagged rising anxiety and mental health struggles among students, particularly in the years following pandemic-related disruptions to schooling and social routines.
