When the Health System Fails, Parents Seek Help Anywhere They Can

The pressure created by trying to access healthcare for kids is real and something we should explore more deeply.

New polling from Abacus Data sheds light on a quietly growing pressure point in Canadian healthcare: how often parents are turning to the system for care for their children, including mental health support. It’s a snapshot that reveals more than just usage patterns, I think it exposes a system strained by rising demand, tested trust, and a parallel information ecosystem that is reshaping how many parents make decisions about their children’s well-being.