The McCreary Adolescent Health Survey is conducted every five years to provide insight into the overall wellbeing of youth across British Columbia. The most recent surveys were conducted in 2013 and 2018. According to the 2018 survey, Okanagan students reported a decline in the way they rated their mental health. In fact, there was a noticeable increase amongst youth in reported Anxiety Disorders (from 11% to 24%), Depression (from 12% to 19%), and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (from 1% to 3%). Additionally, the report states that self-injurious behaviours have increased amongst youth, and there has been an increase in suicidal ideation and suicide attempts (from 14% to 19%). Consider looking at this report for additional related and unrelated statistics.

Knowing the impact that 2020-2021 has had on the global adult population, our hopes were to create a course to further support the individuals who care for youth in our community and beyond. We know that youth, too, have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and we recognize an increase in mental health challenges as a result of this. We hope that this course provides you with the skills and tools to make a difference in the lives of the youth that you care for.