South Vancouver Island Results of the 2013 BC Adolescent Health Survey

BC Adolescent Health Survey: South Vancouver Island 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 South Vancouver Island

Youth in South Vancouver Island ▪68% of students reported European heritage ▪16% of students born outside of Canada ▪Less likely to identify as straight

Home life ▪94% of students lived with at least one parent ▪3% had lived in foster care ▪10% ran away from home in past year ▪22% moved from one home to another

Young carers

Health conditions and disabilities ▪Almost 1 in 3 females and 1 in 4 males had at least one health condition or disability ▪Females were almost 3 x as likely as males to report a mental or emotional health condition ▪For many the condition was debilitating

Working

Technology ▪89% of males and 93% of females had a cellphone ▪Cellphone use was linked to: –Planning to continue education beyond high school ▪Students without a cellphone: –More likely to have slept for 8 or more hours

Positive Findings and Trends

Most youth had seen a dentist in the past year 10% of students missed out on needed medical care Note: the difference between males and females for poor and fair was not statistically significant.

Note: The difference for males between 2008 and 2013 was not statistically significant. The difference for females between 2003 and 2008 was not statistically significant. Decrease in serious injuries

▪Most youth ate fruit and vegetables ▪Compared to the province, local females were less likely to have had fast food or pop ▪91% of youth never went to bed hungry Nutrition

More youth ate breakfast

Risky sexual behaviour decreased 21% had ever had sex Among those:  23% used drugs or alcohol last time they had sex  38% first had sex at age 14 or younger  Fewer students unsure what efforts used to prevent pregnancy

21% had ever tried smoking Among those: ▪48% were 15 years old when they first tried tobacco ▪Males more likely to use cigars and chewing tobacco ▪51% were recent smokers ▪Fewer youth exposed to second hand smoke daily Fewer youth tried tobacco

Fewer youth tried alcohol 50% had ever tried alcohol Among those: ▪Youth waited longer to try alcohol ▪Fewer reported having five or more drinks in a short time (37%) ▪20% drank last Saturday

Fewer youth tried marijuana 29% had ever tried marijuana Among those: ▪Youth waited longer to try marijuana ▪58% had used it in the past month ▪9% used last Saturday

Decreases in substance use Note: The difference for having ever tried alcohol between 2003 and 2008 was not statistically significant.

Change since 2008 Prescription pills without a doctor’s consent 11% Mushrooms7% Ecstasy6% Hallucinogens4% Cocaine3% Inhalants2% Amphetamines1% Steroids without a doctor’s consent 1% Ketamine, GHB1% NA Using other substances

Injury prevention improvements

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 since 2008 Dropped out of school88%86% -- Were involved in gang activity NA85% Got pregnant or got someone pregnant 74%79% Got arrested66%77% Beat someone up60%73% Used marijuana50% Got drunk28%37% Friends with pro-social attitudes

Overweight and obesity rates Note: The difference between males and females who were underweight or obese was not statistically significant.

Areas of ConcernAreas of Concern

18% of youth experienced a concussion in past year Note: Youth could choose more than one response. Concussions

Ratings of mental health

Suicide Males ▪8% considered suicide ▪4% attempted suicide Females ▪15% considered suicide ▪7% attempted suicide

Other mental health concerns Most commonly reported conditions Males Female s Depression 6%14% Anxiety Disorder/ Panic Attacks 4%16% Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) 8%5%

Foregone mental health care ▪18% of females and 5% of males did not access needed mental health services ▪Most common reason was not wanting parents to know ▪Males less likely to miss out on needed mental health service than 5 years ago

Note : Percentages do not equal 100% due to rounding. Getting enough sleep

Mental health and sleep * The percentage should be interpreted with caution as the standard error was relatively high but still within a releasable range.

Bullying ▪Decrease in physical assault not seen in other forms of bullying –Rates of teasing did not improve –Females more likely to be excluded in past year ▪13% were cyberbullied in past year

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

Discrimination & violence ▪Females more likely to be discriminated against because of: –physical appearance, –being seen as different, –age and gender ▪Decrease in some types of discrimination ▪Rate of dating violence did not improve

Abuse & harassment

Exercise participation ▪18% of students aged met their daily activity guidelines ▪64% of students aged 18 or older reached their daily activity guidelines ▪Participation in informal sports, organized sports, and dance or exercise classes decreased

BarrierMalesFemales Too busy38%53% Couldn’t get there or home11%16% Couldn’t afford to participate10%19% Activity wasn’t available in community 9%12% Worried about being bullied4%6% Barriers to participation

Protective FactorsProtective Factors

School connectedness Positive family relationships Caring 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

South Vancouver Island Results of the 2013 BC Adolescent Health Survey