By Dimitris Ilias
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
As youth mental health challenges continue to rise and social services face increasing pressures, Quebec’s directors of youth protection are asking a fundamental question: Are children still a priority in society’s decisions?
The question accompanies the release of the province’s annual youth protection report, which paints a picture of growing complexity in the lives of vulnerable children and families across Quebec.
Youth protection officials say they are increasingly confronted with situations involving multiple social and economic challenges. Mental health concerns, housing insecurity, poverty, educational difficulties, and family instability are often interconnected.
In the Laurentides region alone, youth protection authorities processed 15,159 reports involving 10,779 children during the 2025–2026 reporting period. Those children represent approximately 8.3 per cent of all residents aged 0 to 17 in the region.
Of the reports received, roughly one-quarter were retained for more in-depth assessment, involving nearly 3,500 children. Most children receiving services remained within their family environment, while others were placed with relatives or third-party caregivers.
The report also notes that more than 900 adolescents in the Laurentides received services under the Youth Criminal Justice Act during the year.
The officials are calling for greater investment in prevention, family support programs, education, housing stability, and services addressing basic needs. They argue that early intervention is both more effective and less costly than responding after problems have escalated.
As governments across Canada continue to debate priorities amid economic pressures, youth protection leaders say one principle should remain clear: the well-being of children must remain at the centre of public policy decisions.
