The next federal government needs to do more to help young people with mental-health problems, the president of the Canadian Psychological Association says.

An estimated 1.2 million Canadians under the age of 20 suffer from mental disorders, yet few receive the professional help they need, said Dr. Catherine Lee in a news release Wednesday.

Bullying, violence and victimization at school are the organization's biggest concern, especially since Canada ranks below many other industrial countries in dealing with the issue, she said.

Many young people will fail to meet their potential if mental-health problems are left untreated, she said.

When childhood problems persist into adulthood, the human and financial costs are enormous, she said.

According to the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health, up to 10 per cent of the cost of crime can be attributed to inadequate mental-health care for children and youth, the release said.

The direct and lost productivity costs of mental disorders and addiction to the Canadian economy are estimated at $33 billion, said Dr. Karen Cohen, the executive director of the Canadian Psychological Association.

The organization has called on the next government to work with the provinces to improve mental-health services for children, including school-based programs and services.

It also wants the government to address the current shortage of school psychologists.