The Kids Aren't All Right The Star

Guests: Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow
In our series, The Kids Aren’t All Right, the Star has been highlighting the many ways in which children are struggling in Toronto. Mayor Olivia Chow talks about why she thinks a lot of these areas stem from housing affordability, and about her plan to try to break the logjam on that file. She also discusses her history of advocating for children at the city, and what inspired it, and gives some concrete steps she plans to take in the next year or two to try to make things easier for families and children.
This episode was produced by Julia De Laurentiis Johnston, Edward Keenan and Sean Pattendon.

Guest: Dr. Amy Gajaria, psychiatrist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)
Wait times of up to two years. There are not enough publicly funded therapists. Emergency rooms are overwhelmed by children in crisis. Ontario's child and youth mental health system is at a breaking point. The Mental Health Commission of Canada reports that mental illness affects more than one million children and youth in the country. And while the provincial government has stood up and started to take notice with new funding announcements this year, there remain simply not enough resources to help young people suffering from mental illness. As part of The Kids Aren’t All Right series, Kenyon Wallace – who wrote on mental health and children – speaks with Dr. Amy Gajaria.
Audio Sources: CBC News
This episode was produced by Paolo Marques, Brian Bradley and Kenyon Wallace.

Guest: Katie Daubs, senior writer
As Ontario’s schools struggle with resources and ripple effects of the pandemic, experts say students with diverse needs like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) aren’t getting the help they require. ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children, yet there is no official ministry categorization making it difficult to support in classrooms. As part of the Star’s “The Kids Aren’t All Right” series, senior writer Katie Daubs talked to one high school student about her experience.
This episode was produced by Paolo Marques and Brian Bradley.

Guest: Jennifer Pagliaro, crime reporter
Many parents across Toronto struggle to balance keeping their kids safe and letting them develop a sense of independence. In a city where crime concerns are rising and rising faster for younger people, some weigh on that balance more than others. In one family, their son was shot before he was two years old. For the Star’s “The Kids Aren’t All Right” series, reporter Jennifer Pagliaro looked at life after a shooting and what could work to prevent others from suffering the same tragedy.
This episode was produced by Paolo Marques, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston and Edward Keenan.

Guest: Kate Allen, climate change reporter
Fresh air, trees, grass on bare feet. The sound of birds while playing on a playground. Leisurely swinging in the shadow of a tree. Many of us have childhood memories outside in parks and forests, and research shows this time is key to our physical, mental and social well-being and development. So what about the children being raised in urban centres like Toronto, where green space has shrunk significantly over the past two decades as the region faces pressure to build housing and city reports warn that the amount of parkland per person risks falling further. As part of the Star’s “The Kids Aren’t All Right” series, climate change reporter Kate Allen joins “This Matters” to discuss the impacts on children and their development.
This episode was produced by Paolo Marques and Brian Bradley.

Guest: jade guthrie, FoodShare Toronto
When kids don’t get enough to eat at home or they worry about running out of food, it can affect everything in their lives from their ability to learn and grow, to their ability to be healthy and resilient. Yet food insecurity is the reality of 1.8 million kids in Canada. In this episode from the Star’s “The Kids Aren’t All Right” series, guest host Alyshah Hasham and jade guthrie of FoodShare Toronto discusses what we can do to turn the crisis around.
This episode was produced by Paulo Marques, Julia De Laurentiis Johnston and Alyshah Hasham.