1. McCreary Centre Society Adolescent Health Survey III: 2003 results in preparation for 2008 AHS IV A Brief Summary of Results for The Fraser North Region

2. McCreary Centre Society The Purpose of Regional Reports  To recognize health promotion and prevention efforts that are working well  To identify issues on which more effort is needed to improve youth health

3. McCreary Centre Society Fraser North Region  Located in the Greater Vancouver geographic area (used to identify trends)  Includes school districts #40, #41, #42, #43  SD #43, chose not to participate in the survey.

4. McCreary Centre Society What’s Improved: Trends for Greater Vancouver Geographic Area Trying alcohol  Smoking  Having sex before age 14  Condom use  Birth control pills  Drinking & driving  Injuries  Physical fights  Physical abuse 

5. McCreary Centre Society What needs improvement: Trends for Greater Vancouver Geographic Area Feeling safe at school  No change in frequent binge drinking (in youth who drink) Frequent marijuana use  Seat belt use  Racial discrimination  Girls considering suicide  Boys who are overweight  Fewer youth expect to attend post-secondary school No changed in girls with history of sexual abuse

6. McCreary Centre Society Family Background  48% of youth are European  31% East Asian  9% South Asian  5% Southeast Asian  4% Aboriginal  65% of students were born in Canada

7. McCreary Centre Society Substance Use: Ever Used Marijuana Fraser North Region 200326% BC 200337% Greater Vancouver Area 200328% Greater Vancouver Area 199833% Greater Vancouver Area 199216%

8. McCreary Centre Society Substance Abuse: Ever Used Illegal Drugs Fraser North 2003 BC 2003Greater Vancouver Area 2003 Greater Vancouver Area 1998 Cocaine5% 7% Hallucinogens6%7%6%9% Mushrooms9%13%9%13% Inhalants3%4%3%6% Amphetamines3%4%3%4% Heroin#1% 2% Injected an illegal drug#1% Steroids#1% 2% Prescription pills without a doctor’s consent 7%9%8%10% Note: “#” indicates insufficient data to make an accurate estimate

9. McCreary Centre Society Substance Use: Alcohol Fraser North’s rate of trying alcohol, use of alcohol and binge drinking, are all lower than the provincial average Fraser North Region BC Ever had a drink of alcohol47%57% Used alcohol 100+ days in life7%10% Binge drinking on 3+ days in past month 7%11%

10. McCreary Centre Society Substance Use: Tobacco Non- Smoker Experimental Smoker Current Smoker Fraser North 200378%16%6% BC 200373%19%7% Greater Vancouver Area 2003 78%16%6% Greater Vancouver Area 1998 60%26%12%

11. McCreary Centre Society Sexual Behaviour  Youth are waiting longer to have sex.  18% have ever had intercourse (24% in BC)  23% of the sexually active students first had intercourse before age 14 (20% in BC)  13% of sexually active students report that their sexual experience was with a partner aged 19 years or more

12. McCreary Centre Society Sexual Orientation 100% heterosexual 84% Mostly heterosexual 7% Bisexual/homosexual 3% Not sure 7%

13. McCreary Centre Society Sexual Behaviour: Risk of STDs  64% of students in Fraser North used a condom the last time they had sex (64% in BC)  Sexually active students 17 years old and older were the least likely group to use a condom the last time they had sex  Over 37% of students in this region reported 3 or more partners in lifetime  14% of sexually active youth reported two or more partners in the last 3 months.

14. Sexual Behaviour: Birth Control Used Last Time Had Sex

15. McCreary Centre Society Physical Health Status  Most students in the region (87%) report excellent or good health  More boys than girls feel they have excellent or good health (90% vs. 83%)  9% of students in this region have a chronic condition or disability that limits their activity

16. McCreary Centre Society  45% of girls and 55% of boys are satisfied with their appearance  24% of boys and 10% of girls in this region are overweight (based on BMI from self-reported height and weight)  76% of boys and 64% of girls exercise three or more days a week  Level of exercise decreases with age Physical Health: Appearance, Weight & Exercise

17. McCreary Centre Society Injuries  In BC injuries have declined between 1998 and 2003  Fraser North has a lower rate of injuries (29% vs. 34% in BC)  Most injuries occurred during a sports or recreational activity

18. McCreary Centre Society Emotional Health  8% of the youth in Fraser North experienced serious emotional distress in the past month  Girls are more likely than boys (10% vs. 6%) to feel seriously distressed  14% of students report physical abuse  6% of students report sexual abuse

19. McCreary Centre Society Emotional Health: Suicide  Suicide ideation and attempts among youth in BC have not declined over the past decade  15% of students in Fraser North Region said they had seriously considered suicide in the past year  10% had actually planned a suicide attempt  In the past year, 3% attempted suicide once and 3% attempted suicide two or more times (9% girls vs. 3% boys)

20. McCreary Centre Society Emotional Health: Discrimination  29% of youth in Fraser North said they have been discriminated against due to skin colour, sexual orientation or physical appearance in the past 12 months

21. McCreary Centre Society Violence & Safety  2003 survey results do not provide evidence of an increase in violent behaviour in this age group  26% of students in this region say they were in a physical fight in past year  Young people who feel safe have better physical and emotional health and are less likely to take risks

22. McCreary Centre Society Violence & Safety  Internet safety is a growing concern  In Fraser North, 6% of the boys and 19% of the girls have encountered a stranger on the Internet who made them feel unsafe  6% of boys and 8% of girls have run away in the past year  Running away is associated with a greatly increased likelihood of risky behaviours

23. Always Feel Safe At School by Grade

24. McCreary Centre Society Always or Usually Feel Safe at School in… Library 85% Classroom 81% Cafeteria 68% Washroom 60% Hallways 62% Outside on school property during school hours 52%

25. Sexual Harassment in Past Year by Gender

26. Harassment, Exclusion, & Assault by Another Youth at School in Past Year Note: “#” indicates insufficient data to make an accurate estimate

27. McCreary Centre Society S chool  83% of the students in this region like school some or very much  Dislike for school tends to increase with age  Girls are more likely to have positive feelings about school  Majority of the students (79%) plan to continue their education post-secondary school (75% in BC)

28. McCreary Centre Society Community and Leisure  29% of youth in this region have a paid, part time job  Males were more likely to work than females  86% of students have money to spend on themselves each week  49% of youth say they have gambled in the past year

29. Hours Spent in Front of a Screen on School Day

30. McCreary Centre Society  Youth with high family and school connectedness are less likely to engage in risk behaviours  The presence of parents in the home at critical times of the day has been shown to promote healthy youth development Healthy Youth Development: Family Connectedness

31. Family Connectedness & Risk Behaviours

32. McCreary Centre Society  Students who like and feel connected to their school are healthier and achieve better academic performance  Students that are highly connected to school are less likely to engage in risk behaviours Healthy Youth Development: School Connectedness

33. School Connectedness & Risk Behaviours

34. McCreary Centre Society  Feeling safe at school  Enjoying school  Having aspirations for post-secondary education  Having a parent or other adult who can talk to about concerns  Feeling they are good at something  Being involved in extracurricular activities  Volunteering in the community Healthy Youth Development is Associated With:

35. McCreary Centre Society Summary  While some aspects of youth health have improved or stayed the same, there is still room for improvement in many areas  This report highlights the importance of connectedness to family, school and community in fostering health and decreasing risk behaviours in youth

36. McCreary Centre Society Available at www.mcs.bc.ca For More Information