Mr. Martin Rogan:

What we have seen in recent years is a new conversation about mental health, particularly among young people. They have a much more mature attitude to mental health than previous generations. The question is whether we have the infrastructure to respond to that. There has been much focus, rightly, on the development of CAMHS. CAMHS is really designed for 2% of the population. It is a matter of what is to be done with the other 98% and determining what is happening in our communities, societies and family structures that has suddenly changed. There has been a sevenfold increase in the number of young people presenting with anxiety-based conditions. Sometimes within families, for a variety of reasons, including those related to housing and insecure employment, the opportunity for parents to spend time with their children and model life experiences is not what it might be. We must be very cautious in this space that we do not pathologise life. One of the experiences of childhood is that there are slings and arrows and various opportunities and scenarios that are adverse. We cannot treat these away, nor should we attempt to do so. The skills required are life skills but one needs to have access to "one good adult", perhaps a parent, coach or teacher but someone the young person can select and to whom he feels he can relate and who can give guidance or offer a listening ear. This is really valuable.

There has been a lot of work and some extraordinarily useful tools developed in the e-mental health space. E-mental health services can do things human therapists cannot do. The services can be available 24-7. They can understand where one is and the antecedents of one's behaviour and determine whether one is in a difficult position. They can determine whether one is active or texting at 4 a.m. and whether these are issues. We need to be careful to ensure that, while e-mental health services augment and supplement other initiatives, they do not supplant them. We need to be careful that we do not swing in a pendular way just to an e-mental health model.

In the wider mental health space, there is a real prevalence challenge. We know from research done by Dr. Corey Keys in Atlanta that about 16% of the population enjoy good mental health. Approximately 54% have what is described as mental health adequate to cope with life's demands, and approximately 20% of the population will have a diagnosis and be in treatment. A further 10% are described as languishing. These are people for whom life can be difficult and awkward but who do not have a diagnosis. What is fascinating about the research is that it shows that over the course of time people move from one category to another. That one is enjoying good mental health today does not immunise one in any way.

In the past, we talked about one in four. Essentially, we are talking about four in four. Therefore, it is our collective mental health that we need to address. That is why this committee's work is so important.