title: Professional and informal mental health support reported by Canadians aged 15 to 24.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of mental health problems in Canada is highest among youth and young adults. Relatively little is known about where they seek support and the factors related to help-seeking.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey-Mental Health, this study describes professional and informal mental health support reported by Canadians aged 15 to 24.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2012, 12% of 15- to 24-year-olds reported that, in the previous 12 months, they had consulted health professionals about emotional, mental or substance use problems; 27% reported consulting informal sources such as family and friends. Young Canadians with mood, anxiety or substance disorders, one or more chronic physical conditions, higher levels of distress, or who had a traumatic childhood experience were more likely than their contemporaries who did not have these risk factors to report contact with professional and informal sources of support. Those with multiple needs-related factors had significantly higher odds of reporting contact with professional and informal sources.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More than one in ten young Canadians consulted professionals and about a quarter sought informal support for mental health problems in the past year. The percentages were higher among those with multiple risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Health Analysis Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0T6.
authors.forename: Leanne C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Findlay
authors.affiliation: Formerly with the Health Statistics Division, Statistics Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0T6.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sunderland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D044469:Racial Groups; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Childhood trauma; cumulative risk; distress; mental health conditions; service delivery