As Canadian students head back to class, a sobering new report warns that bullying, child poverty and mental illness are on the rise and urges urgent action from policy-makers. The annual Raising Canada report, released by Children First Canada, reveals that more than 70 per cent of youth between the ages of 12 and 17 were bullied in the past year, while over 13 per cent of children were living in poverty by the end of 2024.
Sara Austin, CEO and founder of Children First Canada, described the findings as evidence of “a generation at risk.” She said the sharp increase in bullying, including cyberbullying affecting one in five children, is one of the most alarming trends. The spread of online technology, social media and artificial intelligence has amplified the daily harms youth face, with serious consequences for their mental health.
The report also uncovered a troubling disconnect between teachers’ efforts and students’ experiences. While 71 per cent of teachers said they act to prevent bullying, only a quarter of students reported feeling supported at school. “It’s not to say that teachers don’t care or aren’t trying, but it really shows that our kids are struggling in ways adults haven’t fully grasped,” Austin explained.
On poverty, the report found that 1.4 million Canadian children were living in low-income households at the end of last year, the highest number since 2017. Austin noted that while pandemic-era supports briefly reduced child poverty, the rollback of those programs has left many families struggling again to afford housing and food.
Other threats identified include childhood mistreatment, vaccine-preventable illnesses, racism and climate change. The report calls for the federal government to implement a national children’s strategy and appoint a commissioner to hold leaders accountable.
“Kids represent nearly a quarter of our population and 100 per cent of our future, but they don’t receive an equitable share of public health funding, and that must change,” Austin said. She also urged parents to engage their children in deeper conversations about the challenges they face at school and online, encouraging them not to stop at the easy answers of “I’m OK” or “everything’s fine.”