BC Youth Health & Well-being: Insights from the 2018 Adolescent Health Survey
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Presentation Transcript
BALANCE AND CONNECTION IN BC: THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF OUR YOUTH2018 BC Adolescent Health Survey: Provincial Report
“Thank you, this really helped me see what is happening in my life and how I can fix it!” (Grade 9 student) “Thank you for keeping it confidential and to be done alone. I probably wouldn't have answered so honestly if it had not been confidential” (Grade 9 student)
SCOPE OF THE 2018 BC AHS
Assigned sex & gender identity Mainstream public schools Statistically significant findings About the results
46%European heritage 79% born in Canada 25% here less than 2 years 53% spoke languages other than English at home Background
10% Indigenous 61% First Nations, 32% Métis 28% spoke Indigenous language 4 in 10 – Family in residential school Ta Saanti and Raven’s Children V Indigenous youth
Birth certificate: 50% male & 50% female Current gender identity: 2% non-binary Most youth identified as straight • “I am worried about what my parents would say or do if I ever told them I was bisexual. I'm worried they won’t love me anymore.” (Grade 7 student) Gender identity & sexual orientation
Living with relatives & others • Caretaking responsibilities 1 in 4 moved in the past year 8% had run away 6% had been kicked out Living situations Government care
Sleep Note. The difference between 2013 and 2018 among 13 year-olds was not statistically significant.
72% on social media • 49% doing homework • 4 in 10 went offline • 48% woke up feeling rested Sleep
“ I go to bed early every night but because school starts so early in the morning I feel like I still don't get enough sleep” (Grade 7 student)
26% seriously injured • Organized sports: Most common cause • 13% had concussion in past year • 52% did not get treatment for concussion • Some injury-prevention behaviours improved Injuries
Injury prevention Note. Among those who took part in the activity in the past year.
Gender differences in mental health • 65% happy in past month • 54% managed stress well • 12% extreme stress • 4% extreme despair Mental health
17% seriously considered suicide in past year 5% attempted suicide in past year • 17% self-harmed in past year • 11% males • 24% females • 47% non-binary youth Suicidality & self-harm
Self-harm Note: Students could mark all that applied.
18% did not access needed mental health services in past year • 10% males • 26% females • 47% non-binary youth Among these students… • Hoped problem would go away Mental health services • did not want parents to know
22% had oral sex • 20% had intercourse • Fewer youth under age 15 had sex • Oral sex: 17% used protection • Intercourse: 63% used condom • 1% involved in a pregnancy • 1% had an STI Sexual health
“Many students watch [porn] and get unrealistic ideas of what sex is like. More than once I've turned to porn to simply learn about what goes on in sex." (Grade 9 student)
“[I would like to learn more about] vaping-side effects. How do I quit vaping when I'm severely addicted to nicotine?” (Grade 12 student)
64% drank in the last month F 35% drank last Saturday 49% mixed alcohol 61%binge drank last Saturday 40% got alcohol from an adult Among youth who used alcohol
“I'm pretty much just poor and I think it’s affecting me mentally, like I’m not as good as some people.” (Grade 9 student)
71% had been bereaved • 9% lost someone to suicide • 2% to a fentanyl overdose • 36% had a family or close friend attempt or die by suicide Loss and bereavement
F • Verbal sexual harassment • Physical sexual harassment M • Sexually abused • Physically abused F • Discriminated against in past year • Had been bullied in past year Violence and discrimination
Most students felt connected to school • 73% felt safe at school • Asked school staff for help • 25% skipped school in past month • 83% planned to attend post secondary School