Okanagan Results of the 2013 BC Adolescent Health Survey

BC Adolescent Health Survey: Okanagan 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 Okanagan

Youth in Okanagan ▪73% of students reported European heritage ▪10% of students born outside of Canada ▪Less likely to identify as straight

Home life ▪95% of students lived with at least one parent ▪3% had lived in foster care ▪8% of males and 16% of females ran away from home in the past year ▪24% moved from one home to another

Young carers

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

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

Technology ▪87% of males and 92% of females had a cellphone ▪Cellphone use was linked to: –More likely to feel safe in neighbourhood at night ▪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 9% of students missed out on needed medical care

Decrease in serious injuries ▪29% of students were seriously injured in the past year ▪This was a decrease from 33% in 2008 and 41% in 2003 ▪Most 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 and less likely to have fast food ▪91% of youth never went to bed hungry Nutrition

Fewer youth never eating breakfast

Risky sexual behaviour decreased 25% had ever had sex Among those:  23% used drugs or alcohol last time they had sex  Fewer students reported pregnancy involvement  Fewer female students reported ever having an STI

29% had ever tried smoking Among those: ▪43% were 15 years old when they first tried tobacco ▪Males more likely to use cigars and chewing tobacco ▪50% were recent smokers ▪Fewer youth exposed to second-hand smoke daily Fewer youth tried tobacco

Fewer youth tried alcohol 52% had ever tried alcohol Among those: ▪Youth waited longer to try alcohol ▪Fewer reported having five or more drinks in a short period of time at least once in the past month(41% vs. 47%) ▪23% drank last Saturday

Fewer youth tried marijuana 33% had ever tried marijuana Among those: ▪Youth waited longer to try marijuana ▪64% had used it in the past month ▪Fewer used marijuana and alcohol last Saturday compared to 2008

Using other substances2013 Change since 2008 Prescription pills without a doctor’s consent 12% Mushrooms8% Ecstasy6% Hallucinogens6% Cocaine4% Inhalants3% Amphetamines2% Crystal meth1% 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 since 2008 Dropped out of school--88% -- Were involved in gang activity NA86% Got pregnant or got someone pregnant 76%80% Got arrested67%77% Beat someone up53%69% Used marijuana--53% -- Got drunk30%39% Friends with pro-social attitudes

Areas of ConcernAreas of Concern

20% of youth experienced a concussion in past year Concussions Note: Youth could choose more than one response.

Overweight and obesity rates

Body image ▪Among healthy weight females: –24% thought they were overweight –54% were trying to lose weight ▪33% of healthy weight males were trying to gain weight

Ratings of mental health

Suicide Males ▪8% considered suicide ▪4% attempted suicide Females ▪21% considered suicide ▪12% attempted suicide

Other mental health concerns Most commonly reported conditions Males Female s Depression 6%19% Anxiety Disorder/ Panic Attacks 3%11%

Foregone mental health care ▪19% of females and 5% of males did not access needed mental health services ▪Males less likely to miss out on needed mental health service than 5 years ago ▪Most common reason was not wanting parents to know and thinking or hoping problem would go away

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

Note: The difference between 4 hours and 5 hours was not statistically significant, as was the difference between 7 hours and 8 hours. * The percentage should be interpreted with caution as the standard error was higher than expected but still within a releasable range.

Bullying ▪40% of students experienced teasing ▪36% were socially excluded ▪8% were physically attacked or assaulted ▪17% were cyberbullied in past year –Fewer males were cyberbullied than in 2008

Perpetrators of bullying

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

Abuse & harassment

Exercise participation ▪17% of students aged met their daily activity guidelines ▪73% of students aged 18 or older reached their daily activity guidelines ▪Local students more likely to take part in weekly informal sports, and exercise classes

BarrierMalesFemales Too busy38%50% Couldn’t get there or home14%21% Couldn’t afford to participate12%22% Activity wasn’t available in community 12%14% Worried about being bullied4%9% Barriers to participation Note: The difference between males and females who missed out on participating because the activity wasn’t available in their community was not statistically significant.

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

Okanagan Results of the 2013 BC Adolescent Health Survey