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.
Ottawa's school boards, including the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and the Ottawa Catholic School Board, have also expanded in-school mental health supports in recent years, but demand appears to be outpacing what's readily available. Families searching for help through 1Call1Click may still face wait times before connecting with the right service, something advocates say needs urgent attention as the numbers continue to climb.
What support looks like right now
1Call1Click remains the recommended starting point for Ottawa families who aren't sure where to turn. The service can direct callers to a range of options, from short-term counselling to more intensive care, depending on what a child needs. Community organizations across the city, including those focused on youth crisis support, continue to supplement the public system, though capacity remains a persistent challenge.
Mental health advocates in Ottawa are calling on all levels of government to treat the rise in youth intakes as a signal to invest further in prevention and early intervention, rather than waiting until kids reach a crisis point.
The bottom line
The 69 per cent increase in youth mental health intakes is a wake-up call for Ottawa. As more local kids and teens seek help, the question now is whether the city's mental health infrastructure can keep pace with the need.
If you or someone you know in Ottawa needs support, 1Call1Click can help connect families to youth mental health services.
Source: Ottawa Citizen
