Canada’s Food Guide explains what kinds of food help us meet our health needs. How easy or hard is it for you or your family to buy groceries that fit both your budget and your health needs?
In a recent poll, almost 1 in 3 U-Reporters said they found it hard or very hard to access professional mental health services like a psychiatrist, therapist, or counsellor. Do you think mental health support should be considered a basic need?
Has your access to basic needs changed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic? If so, how?
90 responded out of 92 polled
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What emerging issues affecting young people’s basic needs do you think are most important right now, or require the most attention?
83 responded out of 90 polled
Basic Needs: What U-Reporters Have to Say
Has your access to basic needs changed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic? If so, how?
• Basic needs are harder to afford:
o Loss of income due to reduced work hours or job loss
o Parental job loss
o Increase in cost of food and other essentials
• Basic needs are harder to access:
o In-person health services are restricted and have long wait lists
o Harder to shop for clothes, food, and other essentials
• Basic needs have increased:
o Reliance on and usage of internet has increased
o Negative impact of pandemic and lockdown has increased need for mental health support
• Concern about transmission of COVID-19:
o Taking public transit, working out of the home, and entering stores are all associated with greater risk of exposure, making it harder to access basic needs.
What emerging issues affecting young people’s basic needs do you think are most important right now, or require the most attention?
• Mental health (mentioned in 55% of responses)
• Shelter/ affordable housing (20%)
• Impacts of doing school online/ in a pandemic (12%)
