Lack of access to nature can contribute to social isolation, which is a risk factor for mental illness. In a 2019 survey, 43% of youth reported feeling disconnected from nature.
Social isolation was a major problem for youth even before the pandemic: in a 2019 survey, 23% of youth in Canada reported feeling lonely or socially isolated on a regular basis. In 2021, 61% of youth reported feeling socially isolated during the pandemic.