ABSTRACT
The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) (2012) reports that in any given year, one in five people lives with a mental illness. Mood and anxiety disorders are the most prevalent conditions for all ages (p. 9). Of those Canadians who have a mental illness, one million are children and adolescents between the ages of 9 and 19 years of age (p. 7). By 2041, the commission estimates the 12-month prevalence of mental illness in Canada will be 20.5%. Notably, there are relatively low rates of community service use of mental programmes. The MHCC report suggests the low rates of access are troubling when one considers children and youth who experience an untreated mental health issue are at much higher risk of experiencing mental illness as adults (p. 11). Given that many young people across the globe are experiencing more serious and frequent mental health issues, and the mental health systems for youth are often a hodgepodge of disjointed services, schools have been identified as important sites for mental health supports. What is problematic about MHCC's framing is the missing wider ecological context. We cannot be healed or studied apart from the ailing planet. If policymakers, healthcare workers and educators wish to provide more robust supports to young people who are emotionally injured by complex and compounding crises, research into the telluric emotions of the Anthropocene is a good space to begin a discussion about reorienting the field towards ecosophical ends.
