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Experts: Psychotic disorders inyouth andyoungadults

Closeup of stressed teenage girl talking to mental health therapist in session
Published: 2 February 2026

While overall rates of psychosis in Canada appear stable,therehasbeenasharp increaseindiagnosesamong adolescents and young adults,and they are receiving diagnoses at younger ages thandidmembers of older generations,according toa new study published in the

Researchers suggest the trend may reflect a mix of factors, including improved early diagnosis and treatmentandincreasingconsumption of psychoactivesubstances.

鶹 experts are available to comment.

Romina Mizrahiis a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Director of the 鶹 Research Centre for Cannabis.Her recent researchfound cannabis disrupts brain activity in young adults prone to psychosis.

romina.mizrahi [at] mcgill.ca(English, French)

Srividya IyeristheCanada Research Chair in Youth, Mental Health and Learning Health Systems andaProfessor in the Department of Psychiatry.Sheleads a projectto reform youth mental health in Canada.

srividya.iyer [at] mcgill.ca (English, French)

is anAssociate Professorin the Department of Psychiatryand aResearcherat theDouglas Hospital Research Centre.He studies theearly stagesof psychotic illness in youth, including who is most at risk and how symptoms first appear.

jai.shah [at] mcgill.ca(English)

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