The Compeling Statistics
That Inspired the AFEP
Teen Mental Health, Substance use, and Suicide
Source:
Among US adolescents ages 12-17 in 2021-2023:3
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20% reported symptoms of anxiety in the past two weeks.
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18% reported symptoms of depression in the past two weeks.
Among US high school students in 2023:4
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40% reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year.
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20% reported seriously considering attempting suicide in the past year.
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16% reported making a suicide plan in the past year.
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9% reporting attempting suicide in the past year.
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22% report drinking alcohol in the past 30 days.
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17% report using marijuana in the past 30 days.
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4% report misusing prescription pain medication in the past 30 days.
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10% report ever using illicit drugs.
Youth 'Sextortion'
Source:
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5 youth suicides in canada in the past four years
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Across North America, the U.K., and Australia, 40+ suicides have been tied to sextortion in the same period.
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Victim demographics: 91% of sextortion victims are male, usually 14–17 years old. Boys are typically targeted for money, while girls are coerced for more sexual content.
Bullying
Sources:
Prevalence Among Youth (12–17 years old):
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71% reported experiencing at least one form of bullying in the past 12 months.
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42% said it happened monthly or more often.
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25% reported being cyberbullied in the past year.
Cyberbullying Trends:
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Risk increases with age: 20% at age 12, rising to 27% by age 17.
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Common forms include threats/insults (16%) and deliberate exclusion from online communities (13%).
Types of Bullying (General):
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Physical: hitting, kicking, tripping, damaging property.
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Verbal: name-calling, insults, threats.
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Social/relational: exclusion, spreading rumors.
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Cyberbullying: harassment via social media, texts, or online platforms.
Impact:
Victims of bullying are at higher risk of depression, anxiety, poor academic performance, and in severe cases, suicidal thoughts. Bullying remains widespread in Canada, with nearly 3 in 4 youth reporting some form of it. Cyberbullying is growing rapidly, especially among older teens, and the mental health consequences are significant.
Technology Addiction
Sources:
Time Spent Online:
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According to the 2022 Canadian Internet Use Survey (CIUS), 1 in 4 Canadians reported spending 20+ hours per week online for general purposes, up from 21% in 2018.
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Younger Canadians (15–24) are the heaviest users, with many reporting 5+ hours daily on smartphones or social media.
Mental health impacts:
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22% of Canadians said online activities made them feel anxious, depressed, or envious of others’ lives.
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24% reported that technology use interfered with sleep, physical activity, or school/work performance.
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Increased smartphone use was linked to lower relationship satisfaction with friends and family.
Youth and social media
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A Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) survey found that 86% of Ontario students visit social media daily, and 16% spend 5+ hours per day on it.
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Heavy users often show compulsive behaviours similar to addictions, with withdrawal-like symptoms when restricted.
Addiction-like Patterns
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Research suggests compulsive social media use activates the same brain reward pathways as substance addictions (nucleus accumbens activity).
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While “Internet addiction” is not officially recognized in the DSM-5, Canadian mental health experts warn that problematic use can mimic addictive behaviours.
The Stress on Women
Sources:
Anxiety & Depression (Canada):
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Women are nearly twice as likely as men to experience anxiety disorders (14% vs. 8%) and major depression (11% vs. 6%).
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Among young women (18–24), 1 in 4 report symptoms of anxiety or depression, the highest rate of any female age group.
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These conditions are strongly linked to feelings of being “not good enough” or “not fitting in.”
Imposter Syndrome:
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Studies suggest up to 70% of people experience imposter feelings at some point, but women—especially in professional or academic settings—report them more frequently.
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A 2022 KPMG survey found 75% of executive women experienced imposter syndrome at some point in their careers, doubting their worth despite achievements.
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Body Image and Self-Esteem:
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According to Dove’s Global Beauty and Confidence Report (2016, still widely cited), 85% of Canadian girls (ages 10–17) reported opting out of important life activities (like sports, social events, or school) because they didn’t feel good about how they looked.
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Globally, 7 in 10 women say they don’t feel represented in media and advertising, which contributes to feelings of inadequacy.
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Loneliness and Belonging:
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A 2023 Statistics Canada survey found that 1 in 4 women (25%) reported feeling lonely “often or always,” compared to 20% of men.
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Women in caregiving roles (who make up 54% of all caregivers in Canada) report higher stress and lower sense of belonging than the general population
Tech Scams Against Seniors
Sources:
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Seniors (60+) reported over $100 million in losses to fraud in 2022 alone.
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Romance scams accounted for $59 million in losses in 2022, the third-largest category of fraud in Canada.
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Grandparent scams (where fraudsters pose as a relative in distress) affected 2,494 seniors, with losses totaling $9.4 million.
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Phishing and tech support scams together cost Canadians $58 million in 2022
