Pubdate: Fri, 17 Oct 2014
Source: Vancouver 24hours (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Vancouver 24 hrs.
Contact: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/letters
Website: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3837
Author: Jane Deacon
Page: 5
Referenced: 2013 BC Adolescent Health Survey (Vancouver): 
http://www.mcs.bc.ca/pdf/AHSV_Vancouver.pdf

LESS DRUG, ALCOHOL AND SEXUAL ACTIVITY WITH VANCOUVER TEENAGERS: SURVEY

Survey Finds Reductions in Some Risky Behaviours Over the Last 
Decade, While Mental Health Concerns Grow

Fewer Vancouver teens are drinking and doing drugs than they were a 
decade ago, shows a survey of over 2,000 local students. The 
percentage of Vancouver youth who have tried alcohol decreased from 
45% to 33%, while those who have tried marijuana dropped 7% in the 
last decade, says a McCreary Centre Society survey of adolescent health.

In collaboration with the provincial government and the public health 
system, the centre has conducted the survey every five years since 
1992 - polling over 130,000 Grade 7 to 12 students across the province.

The most recent results show that local teens are having less sexual 
intercourse and waiting longer to try it, with the percentage of 
students who first had sex at age 14 or younger dropping by 7% to a 
quarter of respondents. With reduction in some risky behaviours, the 
survey highlights growing mental health concerns - especially among 
female respondents, who show higher rates of self-harm, suicidal 
thoughts and suicide attempts than their male counterparts.

They're also not always seeking help, with roughly 10% saying they 
don't ask for medical or mental health support when they need it - 
most commonly not wanting their parents to know.

"We're seeing rises in mental health conditions and young people 
reporting extreme stress and extreme despair, yet they're reluctant 
to seek help because they don't want their parents to know," said 
Annie Smith, McCreary's executive director.

The society will undertake further study on the "whys" behind these 
results in the coming months, with results used by various 
organizations and levels of government t o develop policy and support 
systems around youth
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom