The founder of Children First Canada says the high rates of mental health issues, poverty, obesity and mortality among Canadian children is staggering. Sara Austin pointed to the report called “Raising Canada” which says it’s ranked in the top five countries for the highest child suicide rates which is also the second leading cause of child deaths in Canada. Austin suggests governments are failing to provide the level of health care support needed by Canadian children. Austin feels making sure small children are in car seats and kids are wearing bicycle helmets will cut down on preventable fatalities as accidents which are the leading cause of child deaths across the country. The report indicates Saskatchewan’s infant mortality rate is the highest of the prairie provinces while in 2016 just over 19-hundred children needed hospital care for mental health issues. Meanwhile, roughly 30-percent of Saskatchewan children were classified as overweight or obese. Austin’s organization is calling for an independent national Commissioner for Children and Youth to hold governments accountable.
Other recommendations include a children’s budget to ensure public money is being used to solve problems.
Governments Being Called on to Provide Better Health Care Support for Kids
Sep 6, 2018 | 11:08 AM
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