Ottawa finally probes child mental health damage of government lockdowns

After years of pandemic restrictions that saw schools closed and kids isolated, Health Canada is finally investigating the fallout from COVID lockdowns on the mental and physical health of children.

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After years of pandemic restrictions that saw schools closed and kids isolated, Health Canada is finally investigating the fallout from COVID lockdowns on the mental and physical health of Canadian children.

Health Canada has commissioned research to examine the mental health impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns on children, a development first reported by Blacklock’s Reporter.

In a notice to consultants, the department noted that exposure to green space has been “consistently associated with protective effects on children’s physical and mental health,” and cited evidence linking outdoor access to improved emotional, behavioural and cognitive outcomes.

The research, titled Systematic Literature Reviews And Meta Analyses Supporting Two Projects On Children’s Health And Covid-19, seeks “policy-relevant evidence on vulnerable populations.” A budget was not disclosed, and a final report is expected in 2026.

The project will also investigate links between childhood asthma, allergies, and mood or anxiety disorders alongside environmental factors. Health Canada said the findings will inform future public-health planning and emergency response.

The research follows earlier warnings presented to the House of Commons health committee in 2022 about the effects of school closures, remote learning and reduced outdoor activity. Clinicians reported a rise in psychiatric challenges, including longer waits for mental-health services and increased admissions for eating disorders.

Data published since the pandemic has also pointed to broader declines in Canadians’ well-being. A May 2025 report by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms cited Statistics Canada findings showing self-rated mental health among Canadians aged 12 and older fell from 64 per cent pre-pandemic to 58 per cent during lockdown periods. Young adults aged 18 to 34 reported the lowest levels of self-rated mental health at 51 per cent, while ratings of “fair” or “poor” mental health rose nationally from six per cent in 2015 to 15 per cent in 2023.

In its statement responding to the new federal study, the Justice Centre said isolating children from their peers and restricting outdoor play created a “psychosocial hidden burden,” arguing governments “should have acknowledged the significant harms caused by lockdowns—especially to children—before imposing them.”

Health Canada says the forthcoming research will help identify evidence gaps and guide future pandemic preparedness.