Author of the article: Blair McBride Dr. Doug Klein poses for a photo outside his Edmonton clinic, Friday Nov. 5, 2021. Dr. Klein runs a wellness clinic at a High School and believes the COVID-19 pandemic has produced a cumulative effect on youth mental health, and that youth mental health will get worse before it gets better because young people will need time to get used to regular socializing again after more than 18 months of restrictions and too much screen time. Photo by David Bloom Photo by David Bloom David Bloom /David Bloom/Postmedia Worsening mental health indicators in Alberta children and youth are spurring some doctors to declare a crisis in the fourth wave of the pandemic. Diagnoses and severity of depression, anxiety and eating disorders have increased by at least 20 percent in the last four months, say doctors, some of whom worry the worst is yet to come. Although COVID-19 restrictions are looser now than one year ago, mental health issues are being driven by a combination of return-to-school stress, less socializing, excessive screen time and general worry over the pandemic. More fearful Dr. Caroline Buzanko, who works with youth aged five to 22 at her Koru…
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'On edge all the time:' Children's mental health nearing 'crisis' in Alberta's fourth wave, doctors say
