East Kootenay Results of the 2013 BC Adolescent Health Survey

BC Adolescent Health Survey: East Kootenay Results ▪Background ▪Positive findings and trends ▪Areas of concern ▪Protective factors ▪Using the data

Administration 2013 BC Adolescent Health Survey ▪29,832 surveys completed ▪1,645 classrooms ▪56 school districts ▪325 PHNs and nursing students East Kootenay

Youth in East Kootenay ▪71% of students reported European heritage ▪8% of students born outside of Canada ▪Females less likely to identify as straight

Home life ▪94% of students lived with at least one parent ▪3% had lived in foster care ▪11% of males and 18% of females ran away from home in the past year ▪23% moved from one home to another

Young carers

Health conditions and disabilities ▪28% had at least one health condition or disability ▪Females were more than 3 times as likely as males to report a mental or emotional health condition ▪For many the condition was debilitating

Working Note: Not all differences were statistically significant.

Technology ▪92% of students had a cellphone ▪Students with a cellphone: –More likely to feel safe at school –More likely to play informal sports on a weekly basis ▪Students without a cellphone: –Less likely to have attempted suicide in past year

Positive Findings and Trends

Most youth had seen a dentist in the past year 9% of students missed out on needed medical care Note: Percentages do not equal 100% due to rounding.

Decrease in serious injuries ▪A third of students were seriously injured in the past year ▪This was a decrease from 43% in 2003 and 38% in 2008 ▪50% of injuries occurred during sports or recreational activities

Injury prevention improvements

▪Most youth ate fruit and vegetables ▪Compared to the province, local youth were more likely to have coffee, food grown or caught by them or their family, and energy drinks ▪92% of youth never went to bed hungry Nutrition

More youth ate breakfast

29% had ever had sex Among those:  The most common age for first having sex was 15 years old  Fewer females used drugs or alcohol last time they had sex  4% reported pregnancy involvement Sexual behaviour

29% had ever tried smoking Among those: ▪Youth waited longer to first try tobacco ▪Females more likely to use cigarettes, males to use chewing tobacco ▪58% were recent smokers Fewer youth exposed to second-hand smoke daily Fewer youth tried tobacco

Fewer youth tried alcohol 59% had ever tried alcohol Among those: ▪Youth waited longer to try alcohol ▪Fewer reported having five or more drinks in a few hours at least once in the past month 26% of youth drank last Saturday

Fewer youth tried marijuana 31% had ever tried marijuana Among those: ▪67% first used marijuana before age 15 ▪59% had used it in the past month ▪32% used marijuana and alcohol last Saturday

Decreases in substance use Note: The difference between 2003 and 2008 in youth who had tried alcohol was not statistically significant.

Using other substances2013 Change since 2008 Prescription pills without a doctor’s consent 11% Mushrooms10% Hallucinogens7% Ecstasy6% Cocaine4% Inhalants4% Amphetamines2% Crystal meth2% Steroids without a doctor’s consent 1% Heroin1%

School safety increased

Note: NA means that the question was not asked. -- The percentages in 2008 and 2013 were comparable. Students whose friends would be upset with them if they Change from2008 Dropped out of school84%87% -- Were involved in gang activity NA83% Got pregnant or got someone pregnant 72%81% Got arrested61%74% Beat someone up42%63% Used marijuana51%54% -- Got drunk27%34% Friends with pro-social attitudes

Areas of ConcernAreas of Concern

Concussions Note: Youth could choose more than one response.

Overweight and obesity rates ▪75% were a healthy weight for their age and gender ▪Males were more likely than females to be obese ▪Students more likely to be underweight than a decade ago

Body image

Ratings of mental health

Other mental health concerns Most commonly reported conditions Males Female s Depression 7%15% Anxiety Disorder/ Panic Attacks 3%13%

Foregone mental health care ▪11% did not access needed mental health services ▪Most common reasons: –Thinking or hoping problem would go away –Not wanting parents to know ▪Females less likely to miss out on needed mental health service than 5 years ago

Suicide Males ▪11% considered suicide ▪5% attempted suicide Females ▪19% considered suicide ▪10% attempted suicide

Getting enough sleep

Note: Not all differences were statistically significant. * The percentage should be interpreted with caution as the standard error was higher than expected but still within a releasable range.

Bullying ▪39% of students experienced teasing ▪39% were socially excluded ▪9% were physically attacked or assaulted ▪16% were cyberbullied in past year –Fewer males were cyberbullied than in 2008

Perpetrators of bullying * The percentage should be interpreted with caution as the standard error was relatively high but still within a releasable range.

Discrimination & violence ▪Females more likely to be discriminated against because of: –physical appearance, –being seen as different, –age –gender or sex ▪Rate of dating violence did not improve

Abuse & harassment

Exercise participation ▪19% of students aged met their daily activity guidelines ▪Most students aged 18 or older reached their daily activity guidelines ▪Local students less likely to take part in weekly informal sports than 2003

BarrierMalesFemales Too busy35%48% Activity wasn’t available in community18%24% Couldn’t get there or home10%16% Couldn’t afford to participate11%20% Worried about being bullied3%7% Barriers to participation

Protective FactorsProtective Factors

School connectedness Positive family relationships Supportive adults outside the family Someone to turn to for help Established Protective Factors

Peer relationships Good nutrition Feeling engaged and valued Stable home Established Protective Factors

Eight or more hours of sleep Neighbourhood safety Community connectedness Cultural connectedness Protective Factors

Youth are generally making less risky choices about their health Mental health for females is among the areas of concern, and where there have been fewer improvements Promoting protective factors have and can continue to play a key role in improving outcomes for BC youth

56 school district data tables 16 HSDA reports Growing Up in BC Sexual health report Youth resources Using the data

Next Steps ▪Youth-led projects or initiatives In Our Shoes ▪Bullying awareness video ▪

Grants up to $500 for youth-led projects

Discussing the results ▪Commentary on the AHS findings from: –Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, Representative for Children and Youth –Bob Lenarduzzi, President, Vancouver Whitecaps –And more! ▪Video on McCreary’s YouTube channelVideo on McCreary’s YouTube channel

East Kootenay Results of the 2013 BC Adolescent Health Survey @mccrearycentre