Civics and Citizenship Culminating Project

Federal Issue: Rise In Eating Disorders Seen Among Canada Youth During Pandemic

I. Copy of the News Story

Ziafati, Noushin (December 10, 2021). CBC News. “'I stopped eating': Rise in eating

disorders seen among Ontario youth during pandemic”.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/eating-disorders-youth-mental-health-covid-pandem

ic-1.6280815

'I stopped eating': Rise in eating disorders seen among Ontario youth during pandemic
Number of young people seeking treatment for eating disorders has spiked. Hadley
Phillipson-Webb didn't know right away that the symptoms she began experiencing last
December were those of an eating disorder.
She knew she was eating less, but she didn't think much of it. Her mind was largely occupied
with increasingly negative thoughts about her appearance as pandemic restrictions left her cut
off from socializing with friends at school and at a karate studio where she taught and took
classes.
"Not being able to see anyone or really kind of do anything just gave me more time to just
think about myself," she recalled. "As time went on, I was just less and less happy with my
body and how I looked. So then I stopped eating."
It's a situation experts say many youth have found themselves in since COVID-19 hit — and
a phenomenon hospitals in Ontario have been working hard to deal with.
In the last year, Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children said it has seen a 35 per cent annual
increase in admissions to its eating disorder program, while its inpatient psychiatry and
adolescent medicine unit has been consistently at or over capacity. A children's hospital in
Hamilton says it's seen a 90 per cent spike in referrals to its eating disorder program.
Eating disorders spiked during the pandemic, and that forced a rethink in how they are treated
For Phillipson-Webb, the realization that she had anorexia nervosa disorder came after a trip
to the emergency room in February.
Her mother had grown concerned about how little she was eating and urged Phillipson-Webb
to see her doctor, who suggested an electrocardiogram. The teen's heart rate was so low in the
results that her mother rushed her to SickKids hospital. It was there that she was diagnosed
and admitted to an eating disorder program.
Phillipson-Webb said she went through a flurry of emotions trying to process her diagnosis.
"I was denying it, I was mad about it, I was sad about it, all within like 10 seconds," she said.
"It was just kind of hard to realize that that is what had happened."

Heightened demand for eating disorder treatments

Christina Bartha, executive director of the brain and mental health program at SickKids, said
the hospital has had to increase capacity in a number of areas and "stretch" staff to respond to
the heightened demand for eating disorder services.
Even before the pandemic, Bartha said, wait times for mental health and eating disorder
services at SickKids were "not good," but COVID-19 made things far worse.
"COVID is a great amplifier," she said. "In pediatrics, the mental health and eating disorder
rise in numbers is, to some degree, our pandemic. This has been very significant in terms of
the number of kids presenting for care, and being able to attend to that has been really
challenging."
At McMaster Children's Hospital in Hamilton, there was a 90 per cent increase in referrals to
the eating disorder program between 2019-20 and 2020-21, according to Bruce Squires, the
hospital's president.
Doctors say Ontario children suffering from 'social malnutrition' during COVID-19 pandemic
Squires noted that the wait-list for treatment for an eating disorder averaged about four to six
months at the hospital prior to the pandemic, but it's now "well in excess of 12 months" for
the vast majority of patients.
Meanwhile, the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario has reallocated resources and
increased inpatient capacity to manage the influx of young patients with eating disorders.
Joanne Lowe, vice-president of mental health and addictions at CHEO, said the hospital went
from having six beds to nine beds dedicated for its inpatient eating disorder program, but has
seen as many as 25 children and youth admitted with an eating disorder during the pandemic.
"We were having to take resources from other parts of our mental health program to support
those young people," said Lowe.
There are many factors that have led to a spike in youth eating disorders during the pandemic,
Squires said, with one notable factor being the social and developmental interruptions youth
have faced.
Loss of in-school services a factor in rise of eating disorders
A recent SickKids study, which had over 2,700 participants ranging in age from two to 18
years old in Ontario, indicated that losing in-school services due to COVID-19, such as
healthy eating programs, counseling and learning supports, resulted in worse mental health
outcomes for children and youth.
CHEO's Lowe noted that children and youth have felt "anxious overall" about the pandemic
and many of those who had mental health challenges going into the pandemic only saw those
become aggravated.
In November, the Ontario government announced an $8.1-million investment in 2021-22 to
support specialized care for children and youth with eating disorders at SickKids, McMaster
Children's Hospital, CHEO and the Children's Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre.
Mental health impacts of pandemic on Toronto's young people could linger for years: report
In total, the funding will provide 14 additional inpatient surge beds and 10 additional day
treatment spaces across the facilities to help patients with eating disorders more successfully
transition from inpatient care to community care.
Lianne Phillipson, Phillipson-Webb's mother, called the funding a "very positive first step,"
noting she had to advocate for her daughter to receive care for her eating disorder multiple
times.
Phillipson-Webb, who has recovered from her eating disorder but is still dealing with mental
health challenges, said she wants other children and youth to know that they shouldn't lose
hope.
"It'll get better," she said. "You're valid, you matter and I really believe in you."

II. Annotated Biography of Additional Research

Source #1:

Ziafati, Noushin (December 10, 2021). CBC News. “'I stopped eating': Rise in eating

disorders seen among Ontario youth during pandemic”.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/eating-disorders-youth-mental-health-covid-pandem

ic-1.6280815
Summary:

In this article, the author explains the causes of the increased numbers of eating disorders

among young Canadians, and how COVID-19 pandemic has affected it. The author tells us a

story about Hadley Phillipson-Webb, a girl who was affected by the eating disorder. In recent

months, the number of young people seeking treatment for eating disorders has spiked. Last

year, Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children said it has seen a 35 per cent annual increase in

admissions to its eating disorder program, while its inpatient psychiatry and adolescent

medicine unit has been consistently at or over capacity. A children's hospital in Hamilton says

it's seen a 90 per cent spike in referrals to its eating disorder program. It's a situation experts

say many youth have found themselves in since COVID-19 hit — and a phenomenon

hospitals in Ontario have been working hard to deal with.

Critical Analysis:

Whose voices are heard in this source?

Hadley Phillipson-Webb is quoted in this source, a girl who was suffering from the eating

disorder, along with her mother, Lianne Phillipson. As well, Christina Bartha, executive

director of the brain and mental health program at SickKids, and Joanne Lowe, vice-president

of mental health and addictions at CHEO, are quoted in this source. There also is an

announcement from the Ontario government.

Whose voices are absent in this source?

The voices of mental health doctors and therapists are absent in this article. There also aren't

the voices of many other youth and their siblings who were affected by the disorder, but

overall, the source covers different perspectives on the issue.

Is this source biased? Why or why not?

This source doesn’t seem to be biased, because it covers many different perspectives on the

eating disorders issue. The article tells us about the story and emotions of the patient and her
mother, provides us with the perspective of officials and representatives of Ontario mental

health disorders, and tells us what the Ontario government is planning to do regarding the

issue. All the perspectives came to a conclusion that the eating disorders have really spiked

recently, and that there are steps we must take to reduce this number of admissions with an

eating disorder.

Source #2:

Hounsell, Kayla (March 12, 2021). CBC News. “Eating disorders spiked during the

pandemic, and that forced a rethink in how they are treated”.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/eating-disorders-recommendations-pandemic-1.5946410

Summary:

In her article, Kayla tells us about the spiking number of eating disorders during the

pandemic, and we, together with the government, must take necessary actions to protect

ourselves and our loved ones from these disorders. There's been an alarming spike in the

number of people seeking help for eating disorders. The National Eating Disorder

Information Centre says the volume of inquiries to its help line and online chat service has

been up 100 per cent during the pandemic. In May, the panel, which consists of clinicians,

policymakers, parents and youth, received a $50,000 federal grant to determine how best to

treat eating disorders during a pandemic, particularly in children and young adults under 25.

The panel's recommendations, which were published in the Journal of Eating Disorders, were

intended to help doctors determine what kinds of treatments they should and should not be

delivering virtually.

Critical Analysis:
Whose voices are heard in this source?

In the article, Sarah White, a woman who is struggling with the eating disorder, is quoted.

There are also references to The National Eating Disorder Information Centre, as well as

quotations of Dr. Jennifer Couturier, principal investigator for the Canadian Consensus Panel

for Eating Disorders, and Shaleen Jones, executive director of Eating Disorders Nova Scotia.

There are also references to the federal government.

Whose voices are absent in this source?

In this source, the voices of the patient's siblings are absent, along with other patients’

perspectives. There also aren’t any references to the treating doctors and mental health

workers.

Is this source biased? Why or why not?

This source doesn’t seem to be biased, once again, because it provides us with different

perspectives on the eating disorder issues. It provides us with the opinions of the patient,

health officials and the federal government, who all agree that eating disorders are currently

one of the most common mental health disorders in youth, and that there are actions that must

be taken in order to prevent that from happening.

Source #3:

The Editorial Board (February 5, 2021). The Globe and Mail. “Why wait? Canada has to

start tackling the pandemic’s harmful side effects now”.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/editorials/article-why-wait-canada-has-to-start-tac

kling-the-pandemics-harmful-side/

Summary:

In this article, the author provides us with information about the influence of the pandemic in

mental health disorders and physical issues among Canadians, especially youth. In Statistics
Canada’s regular community health survey, done in October, 32 per cent of Canadians said

their mental health was “somewhat worse or much worse” compared with before the

pandemic. Just 10 per cent said it was better, while 58 per cent reported no change. The

Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto has repeatedly warned about the harms of school

closings on children. The hospital has also reported an alarming rise in eating disorders

among children and teens; doctors in Saskatchewan said this week they are seeing the same

phenomenon. The article mentions that the provinces, which are responsible for health care,

need to start addressing this now, but given the country’s slow and inconsistent response to

COVID-19, there is reason to worry that these issues will be left to worsen.

Critical Analysis:

Whose voices are heard in this source?

In this source, there are only references to Statistics Canada’s regular community health

survey, the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and the officials of Saskatchewan province.

Whose voices are absent in this source?

In this source, there are absent voices of patients, suffering from mental health disorders, and

their siblings, along with treating doctors and health care providers, health care officials, and

provincial and national officials.

Is this source biased? Why or why not?

This source is biased, because throughout the article the author doesn’t provide us with any

opinions on the issue from different perspectives. The author just tells his/her own opinion on

the issue, and puts a lot of pressure on the Canadian government. The author says that the

government doesn’t do a lot to protect its citizens from such disorders, as well as that the

government can’t provide its citizens with the appropriate health care, which would help

Canadians get their vaccines against the virus, and get back to their normal lives as soon as

possible.
III. Introduction

The number of eating disorders has greatly increased since the start of the COVID pandemic

across Canada, and especially among youth. It's a situation experts say many youth have

found themselves in since COVID-19 hit — and a phenomenon hospitals in Ontario have

been working hard to deal with. As an example, in the last year, Toronto's Hospital for Sick

Children said it has seen a 35 per cent annual increase in admissions to its eating disorder

program, while its inpatient psychiatry and adolescent medicine unit has been consistently at

or over capacity. A children's hospital in Hamilton says it's seen a 90 per cent spike in

referrals to its eating disorder program. The National Eating Disorder Information Centre

says the volume of inquiries to its help line and online chat service has been up 100 per cent

during the pandemic. On the one hand, patients and health care providers are grateful for the

help that the government is providing them. For example, in May, the panel, which consists

of clinicians, policymakers, parents and youth, received a $50,000 federal grant to determine

how best to treat eating disorders during a pandemic, particularly in children and young

adults under 25. In November, the Ontario government announced an $8.1-million

investment in 2021-22 to support specialized care for children and youth with eating

disorders at SickKids, McMaster Children's Hospital, CHEO and the Children's Hospital at

London Health Sciences Centre. On the other hand, some people believe that the government

doesn’t do enough to protect its citizens from getting the mental health disorders, along with

physical health issues, and providing its citizens with the appropriate health care, so that

everyone could get vaccinated and get back to their normal lives as soon as possible. Some

people believe that the Canadian government just can’t keep up with other most developed

countries, and that Canada can’t afford the appropriate care for its citizens. In any case, eating

disorders continue to spike across the country, so we must take actions in order to prevent

more youth from becoming mentally ill.

IV. List of Questions

1. What impact do eating disorders have on different groups of Canadian society?

2. Does the Canadian government do enough to support the patients and prevent more

suffering?

3. What is the main reason Canadians suffer from these mental health disorders?

4. Why do eating disorders particularly affect youth?

5. What can be done more to prevent a greater number of young people from getting

mental health disorders during the pandemic?

V. Stakeholder Analysis

Stakeholder Perspective on the Issues

People who were/are These people believe that eating disorders have become one of
affected by eating the main mental health disorders since the start of the
disorders and their pandemic. They say that sometimes it can be hard to accept
siblings that you are affected and that you require assistance. Affected
patients say that youth have faced an issue of interruptions of
social and developmental aspects of their lives, and that they
believe that the government is taking a very positive step in the
right direction by providing funding to the affected individuals
and health care facilities.

Patients who were/are Some affected individuals believe that although eating
affected by the issue, but disorders continue to spike across Canada, the federal
do not believe in the government does not do enough to help their citizens avoid the
government’s support eating disorders. These people believe that the government
doesn’t prioritize the health and well-being of its citizens, but
puts politics first place. This group of people believes that the
Canadian government can’t provide patients with the health
care they need to recover, as well as that the government can’t
provide its citizens with the appropriate health care to escape
the pandemic as soon as possible.

Healthcare professionals, This group of people note that children and youth have felt
treating doctors and "anxious overall" about the pandemic and many of those who
mental health workers had mental health challenges going into the pandemic only
saw those become aggravated. Even before the pandemic, they
say, wait times for mental health and eating disorder services
at hospitals were "not good," but COVID-19 made things far
worse. These people believe that the numbers are very
 concerning, and are asking the government to provide more
financial assistance and support to treat their patients.

Federal and provincial Both federal and provincial governments understand that the
governments issue is very concerning, and believe that the support and
assistance that they provide would really benefit the
individuals with mental health disorders. For example, the
Ontario government announced an $8.1-million investment in
2021-22 to support specialized care for children and youth
with eating disorders at SickKids, McMaster Children's
Hospital, CHEO and the Children's Hospital at London Health
Sciences Centre. The governments are working together with
their health care advisories to provide best possible solutions
to the alarmingly rising issue, and for now, funding is the
solution that is certainly seen, and by funding, governments
are promoting mental health and well-being to the
communities.

VI. Action Analysis

Stakeholder Proposed Course of Pro’s Con’s

Action

People who They believe that new - virtual technologies - through virtual
were/are technologies like virtual are very beneficial technologies people
affected by meetings would really during the pandemic, can’t always be
eating disorders benefit patients during because people don’t honest with their
and their the pandemic; in-person have to get out of the feelings. To say
siblings support groups should house to meet with more, there can be
still be available to people, but rather cyber attacks and
affected individuals. stay in the comfort scams during the
of their home virtual meetings
- virtual care can which can disclose
increase access to the patients’ personal
mental health care information
for people, - in-person meetings
particularly patients can be pretty risky at
who live in rural the time of the
areas pandemic, especially
- in-person support for people with weak
groups will always immunity. Patients
be important because can easily catch the
only through actually virus through
meeting and seeing meeting others
people can you feel - some people don’t
the most support, feel confident
along with emotions enough to talk
and feelings of other in-person, and would
 people rather meet with the
- some theraly like health care worker
checking weights online, without
and checking vital pressure of constant
signs can’t be done monitoring
virtually, so
in-person visits
remain very valuable

Patients who They say that the - affected individuals - the government
were/are government should will have enough will be providing
affected by the provide more funding to funds to recover, and more financial
issue, but do not assist patients with health care facilities assistance to mental
believe in the recovering. They also will have enough health patients, and
government’s say that the government financial support to those who don’t
support should take actions to ensure that they understand how
prevent more people provide the best serious the issue is,
getting these disorders, possible health care will be putting
and that both health care to their patients pressure on the
facilities and affected - federal funding government and
individuals must get would provide fighting against the
financial assistance from hospitals and government
the government. healthcare facilities - federal funding
with more inpatient can’t solve all the
surge beds, and problems, because
additional day along with providing
treatment spaces financial support, the
across the facilities government also has
- the government to educate people
will be able to about the issue and
prevent more people actively promote
suffering by gelato and
provincial financial well-being to youth,
support and ensure in particular
that people are
financially stable and
have enough funds
during the pandemic

Healthcare This group of people - It’s important to - Without enough

professionals, believe that, along with determine how best financial support
treating doctors previous courses of to treat eating from the
and mental actions, there should be disorders during a government,
health workers more research done pandemic, healthcare
about the reasons and particularly in professionals won’t
consequences for young children and young be able to conduct
people who get the adults under 25 appropriate research
eating disorders, and - Research will help - During the
why youth are especially doctors determine pandemic, it can be
 in danger of getting what kinds of harder to ask people
affected. treatments they to take part in the
should and should research, as many
not be delivering can be afraid of the
virtually virus
- Research will help - If the officials are
to determine why in a hurry to show
youth are at most the results to the
danger of getting the public, there’s a very
disorders big possibility of
getting the results
wrong, as the
research won’t cover
as many different
types of people, and
therefore, the
treatment methods
will be wrong

Federal and The main course of - The governments - The governments

provincial action proposed by the will show their can be under attack
governments governments are the dedication and from those who do
financial support and determination to not see the issue of
grants that will be given prevent future eating eating disorders as
directly to affected disorders among major, and blame the
individuals and youth from governments for
healthcare facilities, occurring, along wasting their money
along with providing with offering help to - once again, it’s not
financial assistance for those who are enough for the
conducting research on affected governments to
the issue. - The governments provide financial
will also provide support - they have
more financial to actually educate
support to conduct citizens about the
research, and issue and put more
therefore, more efforts in promoting
people will be able health and
to get the treatment well-being
they need, and the
advice of how to
manage the disorders

Other possible courses of action that I have not already mentioned but think might be

effective:

Possible Course of Action Pro’s Con’s

It’s important to educate youth
and their siblings about eating
disorders, reasons and
consequences, and treatment and
recovery. Schools and
post-secondary institutions can
implement the compulsory
courses of mental health and
well-being for their students.
The government could provide
more financial assistance to
online platforms and websites
which would help affected
individuals get help easier and
quicker. The online platforms
could promote their services
online and in social media.
- The following strategy - Some students might
can make sure that all think of these new
children and young adults compulsory courses being
are educated about the unnecessary and can get
issue, and they know all really annoyed with
the possible signs of another compulsory
mental health disorders, course being added to
and how to deal with them their education
- This could also help - Some students will have
break the barriers for more opportunities to
youth of being not make fun of those students
confident enough to talk who are trying to open up
about the issue, as many to others, which will only
young people are afraid of reduce their self-esteem
opening up to others when levels and cause even
they need it the most more harm to their mental
- With more students health
learning about the issue, - With more people
there will be more people starting a career in the
who would be interested in healthcare sphere, the
helping prevent the government will have to
disorders, and conducting provide more financial
research. It would also assistance to people who
help to reduce the work there, which can be
shortages of healthcare complicated because of
professionals and mental the government’s pre
health workers caused by planned budget and plan
the pandemic
- With the rapid - It’s not always clear if
development of the person is really
technologies and social looking for assistance, or
media, youth are more the person is trying to get
likely to seek help in in a close social circle to
online resources, as it is then make fun of those
easier and more people who really seek
convenient help online, this is
- Those young people who especially common in
really struggle with their youth
confidence levels, are - Online platforms and
more likely to choose resources can easily be
online support instead of hacked, and all the
in-person meetings, as it personal information of
would be easier for them patients can be disclosed
to access help online and either shown to
public, or be asked to pay
in order to get it back
VII. Action Proposal

I believe that the best possible solution would be to educate children and young adults, along

with their families, about the rapidly growing issue of eating disorders among youth during

the pandemic. I believe it’s important to educate youth and their siblings about eating

disorders, reasons that cause them and consequences that follow them, and treatment and

recovery for mental health disorders. In order to educate people, middle and high schools,

along with post-secondary institutions can implement the compulsory courses of mental

health and well-being for their students, according to the provincial curriculums, supported

by the government.

By doing that, the government can make sure that all children and young adults are educated

about the issue, and that they know all the possible signs of mental health disorders, and how

to deal with them if the case arises. This could also help break the barriers for youth of not

being confident enough to talk about the issue, as many young people are afraid of opening

up to others when they need it the most. Because everyone would be learning about the issue,

everyone would understand each other, and it would be easier to communicate. Students and

their teachers will be able to get on the same wavelength with each other, and be able to

discuss something that is concerning to the student regarding their mental health.

The best thing is that when the pandemic is finally over, young people will already be

educated about eating disorders, and ready to pass on their knowledge to others. With more

students learning about the issue, there will be more people who would be interested in

helping prevent the disorders, and conducting research. And with more people choosing

careers in healthcare, it would greatly benefit the healthcare industry and help reduce the

shortages of healthcare professionals and mental health workers caused by the pandemic.
VIII. Reflection

I believe that education about eating disorders would be a good and effective solution

because all citizens would be able to understand the issue and how serious it actually is. Once

again, people must know the vital signs of mental health disorders, and how to deal with

them. For example, friends would be able to recognize if somebody from their social circle

has a possibility of getting affected, and they would be able to talk to the person and find the

best possible treatment. Those young people who are affected by eating disorders would have

confidence and opportunity to talk to others, express themselves. It’s important to tell others

how you feel, because it’s the first step in seeking help.

With more people becoming educated about the issue and more students choosing their

careers in healthcare, scientists will be able to conduct more research in the following area,

which will help prevent more youth from suffering. With that, more people would become

healthcare professionals and mental health workers, which will contribute to providing more

assistance to affected individuals, and help reduce shortages which have been happening

during the course of the pandemic. Overall, when all young citizens will be learning about the

issue of eating disorders in schools and post-secondary institutions, everyone would have

more confidence and faith, and people would be able to trust each other and be open to help.

It’s important to be able to listen to those who come to you seeking help, because many

life-saving decisions can depend upon your knowledge of eating disorders and mental health.

And like Nelson Mandela said, education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to

change the world.