A new study led by McMaster University and Hamilton Health Sciences shows 1 in 5 children in Ontario live with a mental disorder.
The Ontario Child Health Study shows hyperactivity in boys between the ages of 4 and 11 jumped to 16%, but disruptive behaviour in boys between 12 and 16 decreased by more than half since 1983.
However, the data collected in 2014 shows there was also a steep increase in anxiety and depression among all children, growing from 9% to 13%.
The good news is the report shows the number of people who acknowledge professional help might be needed to tackle mental health disorders more than doubled.
Lead authors Michael Boyle and Kathy Georgiades could not definitively say if the growing acceptance is tied to anti-stigma and mental health awareness campaigns.
The study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services and the Ontario Ministry of Education.