McCreary Centre Society
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.
 Northwest

“I am happy to see a survey like this one. It’s
about time questions were being asked. Now I
am hoping to see some positive actions.”
BC Youth Participant
www.mcs.bc.ca
A Picture of Health
www.mcs.bc.ca
 Most
students are doing well; nearly all
84% report good or excellent health
 Serious
injuries have declined
 18%
of females, 7% of males did not get
mental health services they needed
 At
least half of youth did not eat the
recommended servings of fruits or
vegetables yesterday
www.mcs.bc.ca

No change in physical activity: only 1 in 4
males, 1 in 10 females exercise every day

Suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts are
lower for the first time since 1992

More than 1 in 5 females, 1 in 10 males
reported deliberate self-harm
www.mcs.bc.ca




Far fewer youth smoke than a decade ago,
and those who do started at older ages
Alcohol and marijuana use lower
Fewer students had ever used cocaine,
amphetamines, or mushrooms, continuing
declines since 1998
But use of some other drugs, including
hallucinogens like LSD, rose
www.mcs.bc.ca




Relationship violence is unchanged since
2003; 9% of males, 6% of females
Pregnancy rates also stable, less than 2%
Reversing trends in physical and sexual
abuse, after declines since 1992
Protective factors can help even the most
vulnerable youth overcome risks
www.mcs.bc.ca
Most BC teens are doing well,
and report healthier behaviours
than students 10 years ago
www.mcs.bc.ca
Northwest – A Picture of Health
www.mcs.bc.ca
Ethnic or Cultural background
(Youth could mark all that apply)
European
66%
Aboriginal/First Nations
29%
East Asian
3%
Latin/South/Central American
3%
South Asian
3%
Southeast Asian
3%
African
2%
Australian/Pacific Islander
1%
Other (excluding Canadian)
1%
Don’t know
9%
www.mcs.bc.ca
Who youth live with most of the time?
(Youth could mark all that apply)
Mother
87%
Father
65%
Stepfather
8%
Other adults related to me
6%
Stepmother
3%
Other adults not related to
me
3%
Do not live with any adults
1%
www.mcs.bc.ca
Northwest – A Picture of Health
www.mcs.bc.ca
Self-reported health status


57%
54%
84% reported good
or excellent health,
consistent with
results for 2003
12% of youth
reported a
debilitating health
condition or
disability.
Males
Females
34%
18%
23%
9%
3% 2%
Poor
Fair
Good Excellent
Note: The gender differences for poor and
good health were not statistically significant.
www.mcs.bc.ca

16% of youth did not get medical help when they felt
they needed it.
Some reasons for not accessing medical care in the past year
(among youth who felt they needed it)
Thought or hoped problem would…
52%
Afraid of what doctor would say or do
28%
Didn't want parents to know
15%
Parent/guardian couldn't take me
14%
Afraid someone might see me
13%
Didn't think could afford it
11%
Had no transportation
10%
Couldn't go when it was open
10%
Didn't know where to go
www.mcs.bc.ca
9%

38% of students were injured seriously enough
in the past year to need medical attention.
Location of injuries
At a sports facility or field
37%
At school
16%
At home/in yard
14%
In the street or roadway
5%
In a park or recreational area
5%
At workplace
Somewhere else
www.mcs.bc.ca
4%
18%
Injury
Prevention
 64% of youth
always wore a
seatbelt.
 19% of
students
always wore a
helmet while
bike riding.
www.mcs.bc.ca
Helmet use among youth who
cycled in the past year
43%
14%
Never
Rarely
16%
19%
9%
Sometimes
Most of
the time
Always
What youth ate and drank yesterday
Water
Milk, cheese, yogurt
Fruit
Green salad or
vegetables
Cookies, cake, donuts,
chocolate bars
Pop/soda
Pizza, hot dogs, potato
chips, French fries
Hot or cold coffee or
coffee-based drinks
8%
10%
19%
Yes,
Yes,
once
twice or more
23%
68%
35%
56%
• At least 51% of 42%
youth
39%
26%
47%
Energy drinks
No
www.mcs.bc.ca
40%
53%
fell short of the
28%
recommended daily
portions of fruits16%
and
44%
vegetables
35%
12%
49%
38%
13%
72%
19%
9%
86%
10%
4%
Students in each weight category
78%
66%
Males
Females
23%
14%
3%
3%
Underweight
Healthy
Overweight
8%
5%
Obese
weight
Note: The gender differences for underweight and
obese were not statistically significant.
www.mcs.bc.ca

Similar to 2003
local rates and
the 2008
provincial rate,
17% of males
were very
satisfied with
their body
image,
compared to
only 10% of
females
Healthy weight youth trying to
lose or gain weight
48%
Females
30%
11%
4%
Lose weight
www.mcs.bc.ca
Males
Gain weight
Eating behaviours
51%
Males
Females
38%
19%
20%
3%
Dieted to lose
weight in past year
www.mcs.bc.ca
Binge eat
8%
Vomit on purpose
after eating
Northwest – A Picture of Health
www.mcs.bc.ca
Some self-esteem items
84%
I usually feel good
about myself
90%
76%
I am able to do things I feel I have much to be
as well as most other
people
www.mcs.bc.ca
proud of
During the past 30 days, have you felt you were
under any strain, stress or pressure?
31%
18%
16%
Not at all
A little /
about usual
20%
15%
Some / more Quite a bit of Almost more
than usual
pressure
than I could
take
www.mcs.bc.ca
During the past 30 days, have you felt so sad,
discouraged, hopeless or had so many problems
that you wondered if anything was worthwhile?
51%
22%
Not at all
A little
11%
9%
7%
Some, enough
Quite a bit
Extremely so,
to bother me
to the point I
couldn't do my
work or deal
with things
www.mcs.bc.ca
Most common reasons for not accessing mental health
services
(among youth who felt they needed them)
Thought/hoped the problem would…
53%
Didn't want parents to know
44%
Didn't know where to go
31%
Afraid someone I know might see me
31%
Afraid of what Dr. would say/do
26%
I didn't think I could afford it
Had no transportation
www.mcs.bc.ca
12%
7%
Intentional self harm among youth who had
been abused and not abused
Abused
50%
Not abused
40%
17%
Physically abused
www.mcs.bc.ca
17%
Sexually abused
Risk Factors for Suicide Attempts:
Family or friend suicide attempts (19% vs. 4%)
 Sexual abuse (30% vs. 4%)
 Physical abuse (22% vs. 4%)
 Aboriginal ethnicity (14% vs. 5%)
 Health condition or disability (22% vs. 5%)

www.mcs.bc.ca
Northwest – A Picture of Health
www.mcs.bc.ca

70% of youth never had sexual intercourse

Most common reasons for not having sex:
Waiting to meet the right person (53%)
 Not ready for sex (47%)
 Not wanting to get or cause a pregnancy (41%)


Among those who had sex:
Most commonly started at age 15
 21% first had sex before age 14

www.mcs.bc.ca
Students who had oral sex
60%
58%
45%
44%
40%
25%
17%
20%
8%
0%
13 years
old
www.mcs.bc.ca
14
15
16
17
18 years
old
Birth control method used last time youth had sex:
 Condoms: 66%

Birth control pills: 43%

Only withdrawal: 5%

Emergency contraception: 6%
7% of sexually active students have been pregnant or
caused a pregnancy
www.mcs.bc.ca
Northwest – A Picture of Health
www.mcs.bc.ca
Age when first smoked a whole cigarette
(among students who had tried smoking)
2003
31% 31%
2008
33%
24%
16%
18%
17%
11%
7%
6%
6%
1%
Less than 9
9-10
www.mcs.bc.ca
11-12
13-14
15-16
17 or older
Northwest – A Picture of Health
www.mcs.bc.ca
Students who ever drank alcohol
(other than a few sips)
88%
78%
70%
58%
36%
North West
BC
29%
13-year-olds
15-year-olds†
17-year-olds†
Indicates that the difference between North West and
provincial estimates was statistically significant.
†
www.mcs.bc.ca
Rates of different types of alcohol consumed last
Saturday
25%
22%
19%
15%
18%
13%
North West
BC
5% 4%
Beer†
Wine
Liquor†
Coolers†
Indicates that the difference between North West and
provincial estimates was statistically significant.
†
www.mcs.bc.ca
2003
2008
9%
14%◆
6%
11%◆
13%
11%†
4%
4%
5%
4%
3%
1%
2%
Heroin
<1%
2%
Injected an illegal drug
<1%
2%
Prescription pills
Hallucinogens (including
ecstasy)
Mushrooms
Inhalants
Cocaine
Any Amphetamines
(including crystal meth)
Steroids
www.mcs.bc.ca
5%
† Difference between 2008 Northwest and provincial
estimates was statistically significant
◆ Difference between 2003 and 2008 Northwest
estimates was statistically significant.
Northwest – A Picture of Health
www.mcs.bc.ca
Males and females who were ever abused
Males
24%
Females
19%
15%
11%
5%
Physically abused
Sexually abused
3%
Both physically and
sexually abused
www.mcs.bc.ca
Internet Safety:
•14% of students had been in contact with someone on the
Internet who made them feel unsafe.
• 17% of students were cyber-bullied
Relationship Violence:
• 9% of students reported that their boyfriend or girlfriend hit,
slapped or hurt them in the past year.
Discrimination:
• 19% of students experienced discrimination as a result of
their physical appearance.
• 14% of students had been discriminated against because of
race or skin colour
• 6% of students reported they had experienced discrimination
because of their sexual orientation.
www.mcs.bc.ca
Northwest – A Picture of Health
www.mcs.bc.ca



66% of students liked
school “somewhat”
Females more likely
than males to like
school “very much”
(22% vs. 13%)
Skipped full days of school in
the past month
38%
30%
20%
38%
29%
18%
School connectedness
unrelated to grade
level
Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade
7
www.mcs.bc.ca
8
9
10
11
12
Students who always /usually felt safe at school
Library
83%
Classroom
81%
Cafeteria
70%
Hallways
62%
Washrooms
62%
Outside on school grounds
www.mcs.bc.ca
58%
Northwest – A Picture of Health
www.mcs.bc.ca
Exercise in past week
27%
Males
Females
11%
7%
Exercised every day
9%
Did not exercise at all
Note: The gender difference for not exercising was not statistically
significant.
www.mcs.bc.ca
Weekly participation in activities in the past year
Sports/physical activity without…
Sports/physical activity with coach
Hobby/craft
Volunteering
Art/drama/music
Group/club
Dance/aerobics
23%
31%
19%
30%
13%
16%
9%
28%
70%
60%
56%
51%
60%
85%
Males
Females
Note: The gender differences for sports/physical activity with coach and
group/club were not statistically significant.
www.mcs.bc.ca
Gambling in the past year
35% 34%
2003
29%
26%
2008
14%
6%
Played games for
Bought lottery
Bet money at casino,
money
tickets ◆
track, video
gambling, online ◆
Difference between 2003 and 2008 Northwest estimates was
statistically significant.

www.mcs.bc.ca
Northwest – A Picture of Health
www.mcs.bc.ca
Having protective factors in their lives can
promote health and reduce the negative effect
of some risk behaviours.
 Protective factors in AHS

School (e.g., school connectedness)
 Family (e.g., family connectedness)
 Community




Connected to culture/ethnic group
Youth engagement in activities
Peer prosocial attitudes about risky behaviours
 Friends would disapprove of teen getting pregnant, getting
drunk, beating someone up, etc.
www.mcs.bc.ca
Health by family connectedness
54%
Low
41%
connectedness
High
connectedness
17%
Binge drinking
www.mcs.bc.ca
16%
Fight involvement
Health by level of activity input
26%
25%*
No input
A lot of
10%
Poor/fair health
www.mcs.bc.ca
8%
input
Considered suicide
* Indicates that the percentage shown should be
interpreted with caution as it may represent only an
approximation due to the sample size.
A Picture of Health
www.mcs.bc.ca



84% of youth in this area reported that their
health was good or excellent
Seventy-eight percent of students rode a bicycle
in the past year (above the provincial rate of
71%). However, only 19% always wore a bike
helmet (below the provincial rate of 24%).
Sixty-four percent of students in this area always
wore a seatbelt when riding in a motor vehicle
(increase from 47% in 2003)
www.mcs.bc.ca



No change in injury rates in this area between
2003 and 2008 with 38% of students injured
seriously enough to need medical attention
(above provincial rate of 29%)
Students in this area were more likely than
students across the province to report dieting
in the past year (35% vs. 31%)
Suicidal ideation and attempts remained the
same as 2003 rates
www.mcs.bc.ca



Thirty-one percent of students had ever tried
smoking (improvement from 41% in 2003)
Local decrease in youth who had tried
marijuana from 47% in 2003 to 40% in 2008
30% of male and female students reported ever
having sexual intercourse and the same
percentage reported having oral sex (both
higher than provincial rates)
www.mcs.bc.ca



The percentage of youth who reported physical or
sexual abuse was similar to the local rates in 2003,
but higher than the provincial rates.
25% of local students experienced either form of
abuse and 7% had experience both types of abuse
Compared to 2003, Northwest youth in 2008 were
more likely to say their friends would be upset with
them if they got arrested, were involved in a
pregnancy, dropped out, or used marijuana, but
were less likely to think their friends would be
upset if they carried a weapon
www.mcs.bc.ca
A Picture of Health




Provincial and 14 regional
reports and power points
Additional in-depth topic
reports (e.g. substance
use)
Fact sheets on key topics
‘Next Steps’ workshops
for youth and other youth
resources
www.mcs.bc.ca
McCreary Centre Society
3552 East Hastings Street
Vancouver
V5K 2A7
mccreary@mcs.bc.ca
604 291 1996
www.mcs.bc.ca