Making the Right Connections:

Promoting positive mental health among BC youth

www.mcs.bc.ca

Administration took place in Grade 7-12 classes in 50 of the 59 BC School Districts.

Over 29 000 surveys were collected in 1,760 classrooms between February and June 2008.

“In closing, I would like to say that I am a healthy, fit person and I am happy with who I am!”

BC Youth Participant

The 2008 BC Adolescent Health Survey

Mental health of BC youth

Making the Right Connections

www.mcs.bc.ca

Mental health of BC youth

I usually feel good about myself

I am able to do things as well as most other

people

I feel I have much to be proud of

87% 92%

78%

Examples of self-esteem items

www.mcs.bc.ca

“I am comfortable and proud of who I am and definitely don’t want to

change anything or anyone”

www.mcs.bc.ca

Mental health of BC youth

1992 1998 2003 2008

16%

14%

16%

12%

Seriously considered suicide in the past year

www.mcs.bc.ca

“They think it is a teenage thing, they don’t realise it

is serious”

www.mcs.bc.ca

Additional measures of positive mental health

Headaches Backaches Stomach-aches Dizziness

11%13%

7% 8%

22%20%

16%

12%

Experienced physical ailments in the past six months

Males

Females

www.mcs.bc.ca

“Mental health is happiness and self

esteem. So having good mental health you choose things that are healthy”

www.mcs.bc.ca

Accessing mental health services

I couldn't go when it was open

I am not treated with respect there

Parent/guardian would not take me

Had no transportation

I didn't think I could afford it

Afraid of what a Dr. would say/do

Afraid someone I know might see me

Didn't know where to go

Didn't want parents to know

Thought/hoped the problem will go away

3%3%

7%8%

11%21%

23%30%

43%56%

Reasons for not accessing mental health services

(among youth who needed them)

www.mcs.bc.ca

“There are counsellors but you can’t really get hold of them . They are too

busy.”

Youth at Risk of Experiencing Mental

Health ChallengesMaking the Right Connections

www.mcs.bc.ca

Youth who had been sexually abused

Sexually abused No sexual abuse history

21%

3%

Attempted suicide in the past year

www.mcs.bc.ca

Youth who had been physically abused

Males Females

26%

42%

9%

17%

Ever self-harmed

Physically abusedNo physical abuse history

www.mcs.bc.ca

“Even though I have been physically abused, I have

gotten help from the police.”

www.mcs.bc.ca

Immigrant youth

Born in Canada Born outside of Canada

76%84%

Post-secondary aspirations

www.mcs.bc.ca

Teased or harassed youth

Ever self-harmed Attempted suicide

27%

10%12%

3%

Self-harm and suicide attempts by being teased

TeasedNot teased

www.mcs.bc.ca

Youth with an unstable home life

Unstable home life Stable home

24%

13%

Extreme stress

www.mcs.bc.ca

Youth living in poverty

55%

85%

Good/excellent health

49%

78%

Post-secondary aspirations

www.mcs.bc.ca

“I don’t want to have to be responsible.”

www.mcs.bc.ca

Lesbian, gay and bisexual youth

Post-secondary aspirations

Self-harmed Considered suicide

Attempted suicide

64%58%

42%

28%

79%

14% 10%4%

Health indicators by sexual orientation

LGB

100% heterosexual

www.mcs.bc.ca

“It’s 2010 people, c’mon.”

www.mcs.bc.ca

Health of youth with a disability or chronic health condition

Good/excellent health

Ever self-harmed

Considered suicide in the

past year

Attempted suicide in the

past year

No health condition/disability 86% 15% 10% 4%

Any health condition/disability 67% 35% 27% 16%

Specific mental or emotional condition (e.g., depression, eating disorder)

54% 58% 52% 33%

Youth with a health condition or disability

Mental Health and Health Risks

Making the Right Connections

www.mcs.bc.ca

Mental health and health risks

Always wears a seatbelt

Always wears a bike helmet

68%

26%

55%

14%

Injury prevention by ever self-harmed

Ever self-harmedNever self-harmed

Promoting Positive Mental Health

Making the Right Connections

www.mcs.bc.ca

Support networks

Adult inside family Adult outside family

50%44%

24%29%

Considered suicide by adult support(among gay/bisexual males)

No adult to confide in

Have adult to confide in

www.mcs.bc.ca

Support networks

Social worker

Other school staff

Youth worker

Religious leader

School counsellor

Teacher

Doctor or nurse

Friend

38%

52%

54%

57%

67%

77%

78%

94%

People who youth found helpful(among youth who sought help in the

past year)

www.mcs.bc.ca

Who youth asked for help (among youth with a mental or emotional health condition)

Asked for help Was helpful (among those who asked for help)

Friend 84% 81%

Teacher 45% 59%

School counsellor 47% 63%

Other school staff 28% 36%

Youth worker 31% 51%

Doctor or nurse 44% 60%

Religious leader 23% 45%

Social worker 24% 40%

Support networks

www.mcs.bc.ca

Support networks

Teacher Youth worker Doctor or nurse

61% 60% 61%

43%

33%

41%

Post-secondary aspirations among youth who asked professionals for support

HelpfulNot helpful

www.mcs.bc.ca

“[What’s important is] knowing you have a place to

go if you need help – parents, friends or

counsellors.”

www.mcs.bc.ca

Extracurricular activities

Group or club

Dance/aerobics

Volunteering

Art/drama/music

Hobby or craft

Sports/physical activity with a coach

Sports/physical activity without a coach

18%

31%

31%

31%

58%

57%

79%

14%

11%

22%

22%

50%

62%

60%

Weekly participation in activities in the past year

MalesFemales

www.mcs.bc.ca

Extracurricular activities

Less than weekly involvement in dance/aerobics

Weekly involvement in dance/aerobics

19%

38%

Positive body image by weekly dance/aerobics

(among males living in poverty)

www.mcs.bc.ca

Youth engagement

47%70%

Activities are mean-ingful

Physically abused No physical abuse history

40%

52%

Ideas are listened to

www.mcs.bc.ca

Youth engagement

Extreme stress

Extreme despair

Suicidal ideation

20%

14%17%

11%

6%8%

Meaningfulness of activities and mental health

Not at all meaningfulVery meaningful

www.mcs.bc.ca

“I am healthy and I love volunteering because I feel proud to give back anything

towards the community.”

www.mcs.bc.ca

Skills and competencies

Self-harmed Considered suicide

Attempted suicide

13%

9%

3%

22%

15%

7%

Feeling good at sports linked to reduced self-harm and suicidality

Good at sportsDid not report being good at sports

www.mcs.bc.ca

Skills and competencies

Males Females

74%

60%61%

44%

Higher self-esteem by feeling good at school subjects

Reported having school-based skillsDid not report having school-based skills

www.mcs.bc.ca

Skills and competencies

76% 74%

53%61%

Feeling competent at sports linked to positive mental health

(among sexual minority females)

Good at sportsDid not report being good at sports

www.mcs.bc.ca

“[Outdoor activity] programs provide

opportunities to build friendship, get exercise

and have fun where no one will be judged for what

they can do.”

A Further Look at Protective Factors

Making the Right Connections

www.mcs.bc.ca

Family connectedness

High Low0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Good/excellent health by family connectedness

Family connectedness

www.mcs.bc.ca

School connectedness

Low High0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

Considered suicide in past yearby school connectedness

School connectedness

www.mcs.bc.ca

Having an adult to talk to about a serious problem

Considered suicide Attempted suicide

30%

19%

54%

38%

Considered or attempted suicide by hav-ing a supportive adult in family

Have a supportive adult in familyDo not have support-ive adult in family

www.mcs.bc.ca

Having an adult to talk to about a serious problem

Feel good about self Feel good about abilities

78%87%

65%

78%

High self-esteem by having a supportive adult outside family

Have a supportive adult outside familyDo not have support-ive adult outside family

www.mcs.bc.ca

Youth engagement

No input into activities A lot of input into activities

17%

59%

Higher self-esteem by activity input(among youth with a limiting health

condition or disability)

www.mcs.bc.ca

Peer attitudes

Have friends who would dis-approve of getting arrested

Friends would not disapprove

72%

56%

Post-secondary aspirations among youth living in unstable housing

Key FindingsMaking the Right Connections

www.mcs.bc.ca

Most youth in BC reported positive mental health and fewer youth are considering and attempting suicide than in 2003.

Some youth face obstacles to achieving positive mental health.

Over half (56%) of youth with a mental or emotional health condition had not accessed mental health services that they needed.

Key findings

www.mcs.bc.ca

Supportive peer and adult relationships are linked to positive health outcomes for even the most vulnerable youth.

Youth who could identify having skills or competencies were more likely to report positive mental health

Different skills played a role for different youth

Key findings

www.mcs.bc.ca

Family and school connectedness were the protective factors most consistently associated with positive mental health.

Feeling engaged and valued within extracurricular activities was also protective.

Youth’s responses to the data consistently included the need to access supportive adults and peer mentors, as well as opportunities to engage in activities that promoted their physical health.

Key findings

www.mcs.bc.ca

“We need programs that give youth a positive caring adult

in their lives, while also allowing them to express their talents and thoughts about their communities.”

www.mcs.bc.ca

“The only thing you want out of life is a sense of belonging. Whether through

interactions with peers, involvement in sports, or volunteering in the community, the key to healthy, happy youth is giving them opportunities to feel engaged and

useful, and helping them feel that what they are doing is important.”

www.mcs.bc.ca

Next Steps… Presentations of

findings

Summary profiles

Youth fact sheet

‘Next Steps’ workshops – taking results back to youth

www.mcs.bc.ca

These and other fact sheets are available for download at our website: www.mcs.bc.ca.

A series of 8 fact sheets accompany the report, Making the right connections. Summary profiles are available for:

• Youth living in poverty

• Lesbian, gay and bisexual youth

• Youth who had been sexually abused

• Youth with an unstable home life

• Youth who had been physically abused

• Immigrant youth

• Youth with a health condition or disability

• Youth who had been teased or harassed

Making the Right ConnectionsSummary profiles

www.mcs.bc.ca

Making the Right ConnectionsBy-youth for-youth fact sheet

A by-youth for-youth fact sheet summarizing the results of the report was created by Lucy Shen, a member of McCreary’s Youth Advisory Council.

This and other by-youth for-youth fact sheets are also available for download on our website: www.mcs.bc.ca.

www.mcs.bc.ca

All reports available at:

www.mcs.bc.ca

annie@mcs.bc.caduncan@mcs.bc.ca

1-604-291-1996

Thank you