The need to improve access to mental health services for children and youth with neurodevelopmental conditions
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Toward Inclusion, developed in partnership with the Children’s Health Policy Centre at Simon Fraser University, reveals that children with neurodevelopmental conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), and intellectual disabilities (ID), experience significantly higher rates of mental health challenges compared to their peers. For instance, anxiety disorders are nearly eight times more prevalent in children with ASD, while major depressive disorder is 28 times more common in those with FASD. Despite these elevated risks, access to timely and effective mental health services remains limited. The report advocates for immediate action, urging the provincial government to fully fund and implement comprehensive mental health screening, assessment, and treatment services for these children, with a proposed start date of April 2025.