Self-determination theory (SDT) maintains that an understanding of human motivation requires a consideration of innate psychological needs for competence, autonomy, and relatedness.
We discuss the SDT concept of needs as it relates to previous need theories, emphasizing that needs specify the necessary conditions for psychological growth, integrity, and well-being.
In the video below, Dr. Dadson discusses the various types of therapy used in counselling.
According to Dr Michael (Mike Dadson), "an outdoor environment with fresh air, be it in cultivated gardens, or a more natural setting, can help bring calm to both our bodies and minds, and is especially great when we suffer from stress, anxiety, and depression. Walking, or finding a quiet place to sit and breath naturally, allows nature to reach out to us with calming benefits. This is also true when we are around water sources."
To read more about the benefits of the outdoors to your mental health follow the link here.
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Originally published October 7, 2021. Evidence reviewed November 14, 2026.
When I first wrote about youth mental health in 2021, I was concerned about what happened when young people lost access to many of the people, places and routines they counted on. School, work and time with friends ordinarily give young people somewhere to belong and room to become more independent. When several of those parts of life change at once, it can be hard to know what has been lost or when it might return. What did the pandemic change in young people’s lives, and what can the research tell us about their emotional well-being?
Studies that followed children and teenagers over time found that depressive symptoms increased on average during the pandemic, while anxiety symptoms rose by less. Experiences varied considerably, and the early comparison with pre-pandemic research did not show that diagnoses doubled.
The International Labour Organization’s 2020 report focused on young adults aged 18 to 29. More than 12,000 people from 112 countries responded. They described disruptions to work and education alongside concerns about their well-being. The online survey reached many countries, but it overrepresented more educated young adults with internet access. It gives us a picture of what those respondents were facing.
In a separate 2021 review in JAMA Pediatrics, Racine and colleagues pooled 29 studies involving 80,879 children and adolescents. In those early pandemic samples, an estimated 25.2% scored in the clinically elevated range for depressive symptoms and 20.5% for anxiety symptoms. These figures reflect questionnaire scores. A score above a threshold can signal significant distress; it cannot by itself establish a diagnosis.
The estimates were roughly twice those reported in earlier research. That comparison helped draw attention to the distress young people were reporting. Most of the early studies measured symptoms at one point in time. The comparison used different samples, so it could not tell us whether rates of diagnosed disorders doubled in the same children or how much of the difference came from any one disruption.
What did studies that followed young people over time add?
In 2023, Madigan and colleagues brought together 53 studies representing 40,807 children and adolescents. Comparing symptoms before and during the pandemic, they found an average increase in depressive symptoms and a smaller increase in anxiety symptoms. A later review by Elgendi and colleagues, published online in June 2026, found a modest average increase in symptoms such as anxiety and depression, with substantial variation across studies. Increases tended to be larger in studies of settings with full school closures. That association does not isolate the effect of closures from other changes occurring at the same time.
Some studies also found stability or improvement. In a 2024 U.S. study of 1,229 young people, parents reported small changes overall, with some symptoms improving. A 2025 review of young people with existing mental health or neurodevelopmental conditions found mixed results and limitations in the evidence. An average can tell us what happened across a group while leaving much of any one young person’s experience unexplained.
What did young people in Canada report?
Statistics Canada followed respondents who were 12 to 17 years old in 2019. The proportion who rated their own mental health as fair or poor rose from 12% in 2019 to 26% in 2023, when they were 16 to 21. The survey asked young people to rate their overall mental health. It did not measure depression or anxiety symptoms the way the earlier studies did. Over those four years, they were also growing older and making transitions in school, work and relationships. The survey cannot tell us how much of the change was due to the pandemic.
What can we take from this?
One question I would ask a young person is what they miss about the life they had before things changed. The answer might tell us about a relationship, a sense of belonging, or a future they had been looking forward to. I would also want to hear what helped them get through that time and what still feels difficult now. Those details can help us understand what kind of support would matter to them.
New York Times, Parenting, author Jessica Grose has a recent article to help you get the sleep you need.
Every night the same thing happens in my household. My husband falls asleep effortlessly, sometimes while we’re watching TV in bed and usually while he is still wearing his glasses. Meanwhile, I need an elaborate winding-down ritual that involves rereading beloved, calming books and cranking up the white noise. And even after that, it can take me hours to drop off.
The NYT article states "For kids, developing a healthier relationship with Instagram and other platforms can be tricky." Further, the NYT notes "The Wall Street Journal revealed last week that researchers at Instagram had studied for years how its photo-sharing app affects young users and found that it can be particularly harmful to teenage girls, news that alarmed parents and lawmakers."
Instagram noted "The question on many people’s minds is if social media is good or bad for people. The research on this is mixed; it can be both."
The importance of parental supervision when it comes to social media cannot be overstated. #Mikedadson #Langley #counsellor
If you are looking for family counselling, or are having issues with your teens, watch this video about Dr. Mike Dadson's counselling clinic at Gentle Currents Therapy. #Mikedadson #Langley #counsellor
When the emotional bond and trust between couples is eroded or betrayed, there can be deep wounds that can cause retaliation.
Most couples refrain from retaliation regardless of what caused the breakup. However, it is not uncommon to see revenge or some form of punishment with a breakup, especially when betrayal or mental health issues are involved.
Below are common questions people ask about counselling and their relationship when your relationshp goes awry:
If you are searching for a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), in Langley with vast experience in treating trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety or other mental health issues, visit my profile here.
