How are Montreal's youth being affected by lockdown measures?

Jean-Sébastien Fallu, Ph.D., Associate professor, School of psychoeducation, Université de Montréal, Regular researcher at the Centre de recherche en santé publique, signed a letter among other academics stating the curfew causes more harm than good.

He told Local 514 that the pandemic and measures such as curfew has disproportionately affected youth, as youth typically go out at 10 p.m., they need that social interaction for their mental health and to improve their social development.

Fallu says that mental illness has been increasing among youth during the pandemic alongside substance abuse. He says curfew might not limit at-home gatherings but can increase gatherings such as sleepovers to avoid getting caught during the curfew.

Fallu says the sanitary measures enforced by the Quebec government have not been sanitary, but instead political and punitive rather than effective. He identified that this matches much of the CAQ’s other policies, as he says their platform focuses on dividing society, rather than uniting us. Fallu says repression doesn't work, our society instead needs support and harm reduction, however, social division led by the provincial government has resulted in stigmatization of many, especially marginalized people.

This interview was used in an episode of Local 514, which focused on the Montreal and Quebec governments punitive measures during the pandemic and how it has affected Montrealers.

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