{"id":280992,"date":"2026-02-04T22:05:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T22:05:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/280992\/"},"modified":"2026-02-04T22:05:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T22:05:12","slug":"video-new-study-may-help-explain-why-ontario-teens-are-feeling-so-distressed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/280992\/","title":{"rendered":"VIDEO: New study may help explain why Ontario teens are feeling so distressed"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tonight on ‘Closer Look’: The number of teenagers reporting symptoms of depression and anxiety has nearly tripled over the past decade \u2014 and cannabis use may have something to do with that<\/p>\n

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New research might help explain why some Ontario teenagers are feeling so distressed these days.<\/p>\n

The study, published in the journal Addiction<\/a>, analyzed data from more than 35,000 students in grades seven through 12 \u2014 and found that symptoms of depression and anxiety nearly tripled over the past decade, from 10.7 per cent in 2013 to 27.4 per cent in 2023.<\/p>\n

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At the same time, researchers also found that youth who used cannabis 40 or more times a year reported an 18 per cent higher prevalence of psychological distress in 2023.<\/p>\n

Does that mean cannabis use is contributing to youth mental health problems? Or are some\u00a0teens\u00a0turning to the drug to help cope with those problems?<\/p>\n

Our guest on tonight\u2019s Closer Look<\/a> podcast is Andr\u00e9 McDonald, a post-doctoral fellow at McMaster University and the lead author of the study.<\/p>\n

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\nPodcast hosts Scott Sexsmith (left) and Michael Friscolanti,\u00a0Editor-in-Chief of Village Media. <\/p>\n

Hosted by Village Media\u2019s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, Closer Look<\/a> is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.<\/p>\n

Fresh episodes drop every Monday to Friday at 7 p.m. right in your local news feed \u2014 and on the show\u2019s dedicated website: closerlookpodcast.ca<\/a>. Of course, you can also find us wherever you get your favourite podcasts.<\/p>\n

Get Closer Look in your inbox<\/a><\/p>\n

Want to be the first to know when a new episode lands? Sign up<\/a> for our free nightly newsletter<\/a>, which delivers the latest Closer Look straight to your email inbox. You can also subscribe to our YouTube channel<\/a> or follow us on X<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, Facebook<\/a> and TikTok<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Have something to say? Please reach out. Our email address is [email\u00a0protected]<\/a>.<\/p>\n