Over the past several years we have seen more attention paid to people’s mental health. It is not quite the “secret” that was kept hidden and only discussed quietly, if at all. Fortunately, we are now recognizing the need for open conversations about an illness that affects far more of us than would have been admitted only a decade or two ago. To that end, we acknowledge Mental Health Week from May 2 to 8, and Child and Youth Mental Health Day in B.C. on May 7.
There is an overall prevalence of 15 per cent of mental health disorders among children and youth. This translates into some 140,000 of our young people facing significant distress. But are we talking about “feeling a little unhappy” or something more? Definitely the latter. And we know this because of work completed by the McCreary Centre Society that recently published “Unspoken Thoughts & Hidden Facts: A snapshot of BC youth’s mental health” (www.mcs.bc.ca/pdf/Unspoken_thoughts_hidden_facts.pdf). This report, researched and written by some 28 youth researchers aged 15 to 24 and using the resources of the Society, provides a snapshot of youth mental health in B.C.
One of the key findings is that female youth reported poorer mental health than their male counterparts. They were more likely to report extreme stress, extreme despair and self-harm and to consider or attempt suicide. Another group with higher risk were youth with a physical disability. Almost double the number in this group (17 per cent) reported extreme stress compared to those without a disability.
Research showed that some youth self-medicate using substances. Indeed, 21 per cent of youth who had used alcohol, marijuana or other substances reported that the last time they had done so was because they were stressed. Conversely, youth who had not used alcohol, marijuana or other substances reported better mental health than those who had.
Bullying, both in person and online, made it more likely that a youth would report negative mental health. Around half of females and 22 per cent of males who were cyberbullied in the past year also self-harmed in that time.
Having a job also influenced mental health. The more hours a youth worked, the less likely they were to report positive mental health. That said, having a job for a few hours a week was positive.
Finding and using mental health services for youth was uneven. Among youth who felt a need for those services, 11 per cent did not access them (17 per cent of females, five per cent of males). The top reasons for missing out included not wanting their parents to find out, thinking or hoping the problem would go away, and being afraid of what the doctor would say or do.
Families can be a source of support for youth. More involvement such as eating meals together or having an adult in the family they could turn to both related to more positive mental health. Cultural connectedness was another positive factor. For example, youth who spoke a language other than English at home were more likely to report good or excellent mental health than those who spoke only English.
While most informative, the value of the McCreary report is in the exploration of opportunities and the implementation of actions in response. Identifying some of those opportunities is the theme of an upcoming event on the Sunshine Coast taking place Friday, May 6 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. This interactive session with the McCreary Centre Society is presented jointly by School District No. 46 and the Division of Family Practice (Sunshine Coast), and supported by Vancouver Coastal Health along with youth and community partners. The event is open to anyone working with children and youth, and to parents and youth themselves.
Unspoken Thoughts and Hidden Facts takes place at Kinnikinnick Elementary School in Sechelt. Doors open at 9 a.m. for coffee and muffins. Contact Tara Doyle to register at [email protected]
We must all understand the importance of good mental health and recognize that each of us, at any age, may need a little support. For more information and additional resources for child and youth mental health, see www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/mental_health/pdf/tool_kit_bw.pdf
