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Click on the following headings to directly access reports from that survey:

Adolescent Health Survey reports

Full MCS report archive

2011

Moving in the Right Direction: Physical activity among BC youth

This report shares the results of a study of physical activity among 29,440 youth who completed the 2008 BC Adolescent Health Survey. The report highlights the many benefits of physical activity for young people but also identifies barriers to participation as well as risk and protective factors. One of the most positive findings in the report is that participation in exercise and sports has risen in the past decade.
download a copy of Moving in the Right Direction.
Please click here to download the press release.
download a youth friendly version of the findings.

2010

Measuring Our Health and Treat Us Like We Matter

As part of the larger 'Growing up in BC' project of the Representative for Children and Youth and Provincial Health Officer, Mccreary has released two new reports. The first 'Measuring Our Health' records BC youth's feedback on the initial indicators proposed for measuring child and youth health and their suggestions for additional indicators. The second 'Treat us like we matter' offers youth's feedback on the data collected to measure child and youth health and their ideas to improve youth health in the province. Over 200 youth across the province were involved in the project.

download a copy of Measuring Our Health

download a copy of Treat Us Like We Matter

Films made as part of the project are also available to view.
Please click here to see a video from a spoken word workshop that McCreary hosted.

What a difference a year can make: Early alcohol and marijuana use among 16 to 18 year old BC students

This report uses data provided by the 10,000 16 to 18 year olds who completed the 2008 BC Adolescent Health Survey. The study shows that youth are waiting longer than their peers a decade ago to try these substances. It also examines the different health behaviours and outcomes between those who use alcohol or marijuana at 12 and younger and those who wait longer to try these substances.
Webex presentations of the results took place on the 23rd of March 2010 at 3pm and the 25th of March 2010 at 10am.
download a copy of the report
download the press release

Drug Use Among 16 to 18 year old BC students

While the use of alcohol and marijuana is widespread among 16-18 year olds the use of other substances is much less common. Those youth who do use these substances are often coping with negative experiences in their lives and need the support of family, schools, peers and their communities.
download the Fact Sheet

2009

A Picture of Health: Highlights from the 2008 BC Adolescent Health Survey (AHS IV)

This report provides the results of the fourth Adolescent Health Survey conducted in 1,760 classrooms across 50 of BC's 59 school districts. The 2008 AHS is the largest survey of its kind in Canada and provides the most comprehensive picture of the physical and emotional health of BC youth, including risk and protective factors. The results are used by government, schools, health professionals and community organizations to assist in the planning and evaluation of services, policies and programs for youth.The 2008 AHS shows us that the majority of BC youth are in good health, feeling connected to their family, school and community; and are engaging in health promoting behaviors. However, the results also show that there are some youth in our province who are more vulnerable than others. To order | Download (6 MB pdf)

A Seat at the Table

This report focuses on youth engagement in civic and community decision-making. It includes a literature review and offers different examples of involving young people in decision-making processes in Vancouver, from the perspectives of youth, service providers and funders. The report aims to offer a better understanding of the continuum of youth engagement that exists and to show the different ways that youth can be involved in decisions that affect their lives. Based on the evidence presented, the report concludes with some suggestions and check-lists for successfully engaging young people.
Download (2.8MB)

Adolescent Health Survey Regional reports:

Following the release of the provincial results of the BC Adolescent Health Survey, analysis of the survey at the Health Survey Delivery Area has now been completed. Data collection across the province was sufficient to allow reports to be published for 14 of the 16 HSDAs in BC. The 14 HSDA report are available in hard copy using this order form, or can be downloaded from the list below:
NorthWest
Northern Interior
Thompson Cariboo Shuswap
Okanagan
Kootenay Boundary
East Kootenay
North Vancouver Island
Central Vancouver Island
South Vancouver Island
North Shore/Coast Garibaldi
Vancouver
Richmond
Fraser North
Fraser South/Fraser East

Adolescent Substance use and related harms in British Columbia

This 8 page bulletin using data from the 2008 Adolescent Health Survey shows that the rates of students using alcohol, marijuana or tobacco have declined over the past decade. The report is a joint publication of McCreary Centre Society and the Centre of Addictions Research of BC.
Download (1.1 MB pdf)

2008

Improving the Odds: Next Steps Workshops with Marginalized and Street Involved Youth

Summarizing workshops McCreary Centre Society facilitated with street-involved and marginalized youth in the North, Interior, Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island, and Vancouver regions. The workshops provided youth with opportunities to discuss the results of the report Against the Odds: A profile of marginalized youth in BC (2007), and to make recommendations for change. The report also includes information from a post-workshops event where youth from across the province came together to discuss the findings, the workshops, and what is happening in their communities since the workshops. To order | Download (3.7 MB pdf)

Making the Grade

A review of alternative education programs in BC, involving three hundred thirty-nine youth attending 34 alternative education programs for "at-risk" and "high risk" youth across the province, and 62 adult stakeholders. The review documents the positive impact of these programs for at-risk youth. To order | Download (1.4 MB pdf)

Moving Upstream: Aboriginal Marginalized and Street-Involved Youth in B.C.

This report analyzes the experiences in nine B.C. communities of more than 400 homeless, inadequately housed, street-involved and marginalized Aboriginal youth ages 12 to 18. The report is a community-requested further analysis of the McCreary Centre Society's 2006 Marginalized and Street-Involved Youth Survey, which found more than half the youth (54 per cent) who participated identified as Aboriginal. The report also includes the response to these findings from Aboriginal community members, and calls for increased services. To order | Download (10.3 MB pdf)

2007

Voices from the Inside: Next Steps with Youth in Custody

The Next Steps is an interactive workshop series that gives youth the opportunity to respond to the results of McCreary’s youth health research. It was adapted to give youth in custody the opportunity to respond to the results of the McCreary Centre Society’s 2004 survey of BC youth in custody. The Next Steps gave youth in custody an opportunity to share their experiences; explore what supports would help them stay out of custody; and to make recommendations for change in the custody system. To order | Download (1,273 KB pdf)

Not Yet Equal: The Health of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Youth in BC

Not Yet Equal: The Health of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Youth in BC takes a closer look at the health of LGB youth, their life experiences, and risk behaviours across all three Adolescent Health Surveys. This report reveals both hopeful and worrying trends, fewer than expected differences between rural and urban LGB youth, and ongoing health disparities for LGB teens compared to their heterosexual peers. To order | Download (557 KB pdf)

Against the Odds: A profile of marginalized and street-involved youth in BC

The lives of marginalized and street-involved youth are complex and filled with challenges, dangers and opportunities. This report summarizes the results of surveys with marginalized youth in the North, Interior, Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island and Vancouver. It also serves as a follow-up to McCreary’s 2000 health survey of marginalized and street-involved youth (street youth) in six communities across BC. It looks at many of the same issues, considers emerging trends and health challenges and, by comparing the results with those of the 2000 survey, reflects on what progress has been made over the past six years. To order | Download (2,623 KB pdf)

2006

Time Out II: A Profile of BC Youth in Custody

This report presents the findings of a comprehensive survey of youth in BC custody centres. In all, 137 young people participated in the survey answering questions about their health, their families, their behaviours, their experiences inside and outside the custody centre, and their expectations for the futures. The study profiles some of the highest risk youth in BC who place the heaviest demands on judicial, social, health, educational and community services, although they represent a small proportion of all adolescents in the province. To order | Download (1300 KB pdf)

it's a girl thang!: A Manual on Creating Girls' Groups

This manual presents an innovative girls' group program model. The model provides a framework for creating space to explore a wide range of issues that impact the daily lives of at-risk and marginalized females aged 12-19, as well as for building life skills. To order | Download (1,720 KB pdf)

Building Resilience in Vulnerable Youth

This report explores the experiences, risks and health challenges facing vulnerable youth in BC, and describes protective factors that offer hope for helping them build resilience, connections and a positive future. To order | Download (895 KB pdf)

The Next Steps: BC Youths' Response to the AHS III and Ideas for Action

Over the fall and winter of 2005, McCreary conducted 13 Next Steps workshops in communities all over BC. A summary is available of conversations with youth during these workshops about issues that are important to youth and what they think can be done about them. To order | Download (1,800 KB pdf)

The Next Steps: A Toolkit to Engage Youth in Community Action

The Next Steps is a workshop series that provides youth, along with supportive adults, an opportunity to: discuss the results of the 2003 BC Adolescent Health Survey; identify priority issues; and plan projects for improving the health of youth in their communities. The Next Steps Toolkit contains everything needed to put on a successful and fun Next Steps workshop. Read More

Promoting healthy bodies: physical activity, weight, and tobacco use among BC youth

Research tells us that physical inactivity, tobacco use, obesity and poor nutrition are risk factors that can cause serious and preventable chronic diseases. This report examines the health of BC youth in respect to activity levels, eating habits, and tobacco use. To order | Download (1,266 KB pdf)

2005

Raven's Children II: Aboriginal Youth Health in BC

Raven's Children II: Aboriginal Youth Health in BC Youth in Custody, shows that Aboriginal youth in school in BC are similar in many ways to non-Aboriginal youth. Most Aboriginal students are healthy, feel connected to their families and school, and volunteer in the community. To order | Download (735 KB pdf)

British Columbia Youth Health Trends: A Retrospective, 1992-2003

Most BC teenagers have good physical and emotional health and do not engage in risky behaviours. Survey data collected over a decade by McCreary contradict many popular misconceptions about increases in drug use, violence, sexual activity and obesity in this age group. Overall, the survey results show a marked stability in most trends. The data reveal no large or alarming shifts in health status or in the prevalence of risky behaviours over the decade. Progress towards improving youth health has been steady, and even those youth in circumstances of high risk demonstrate remarkable resilience. To order | Download (512 KB pdf)

2004

Healthy Youth Development: Highlights from the Adolescent Health Survey III

Provincial highlights of the 2003 AHS are presented in this report. The report draws on findings of two previous provincial surveys conducted by McCreary in 1992 and 1998, showing a decade of trends in youth health. The report is based on a comprehensive survey of 30,500 BC students. The survey includes 140 questions on health status, including health promoting practices and behaviours that are harmful to health. Press release | To order | Download (568 KB pdf)

From the Inside Out Toolkit: A Guide for Early Adolescent Workshops

Early adolescence is a critical stage of transition characterized by rapid physical and emotional changes. Connectedness to family and school often declines during this stage, while connections to peer groups strengthen. McCreary underwent a project of early intervention and resiliency building with youth between 10 and 14 years of age in three economically disadvantaged communities in BC. This toolkit has information about our community project, its successes and challenges, with ideas and tips on how to implement a similar project. Download (654 KB pdf)

Regional Reports for AHS III

Regional results from the 2003 Adolescent Health Survey for 14 of the Province's 16 administrative regions are available on McCreary's web site. Regional data are released at the request of schools, professionals and community agencies; those who work with young people have expressed an interest in knowing the survey results as specifically as possible for their region. Regions with reports available are: Northwest; Northern Interior; Thompson Cariboo Shuswap; Okanagan; Kootenay Boundary; East Kootenay; North Vancouver Island; Central Vancouver Island; South Vancouver Island; North Shore/Coast Garibaldi; Vancouver; Richmond; Fraser; and Fraser North.

2003

Healthy Youth Development: The Opportunity of Early Adolescence

This report aims to bridge the gaps among youth health research, policy, and programming for young people aged 11 to 14. It includes a review of academic research literature on early adolescence, followed by an analysis of BC data on the health status of early adolescence and on issues of specific population groups. The report also reviews studies on best practice, common elements of approaches and programs shown to be effective in promoting healthy development in this age group. Order Report

National Training Initiative in Adolescent Health (NTIAH)

The objective of NTIAH was to incorporate a youth health curriculum as an essential component of fully accredited training programs for graduates and practising professionals in a variety of health-related fields. The project envisioned an innovative, multi-disciplinary training model supporting an integration of services for youth health. This project was initially developed and hosted in partnership with the Canadian Paediatric Society but is now hosted entirely by the Canadian Paediatric Society.

2002

Accenting the Positive: a developmental framework for reducing risk and promoting positive outcomes among BC youth

This report, commissioned by the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development, supports the premise that provincial strategies to address youth health concerns should be built on a solid understanding of adolescent development and should be positive-rather than punitive- in approach. It provides evidence generated by the AHS II and discusses it's programmatic and policy implications. This report also draws on relevant research literature on adolescence to suggest developmentally based frameworks for future provincial programs. This report is now available for download. Order Report |Download (785 KB)

Violence in Adolescence: injury, suicide, and criminal violence in the lives of BC youth

This special report looks at violence and BC youth and explores death rates due to external causes. The report shows that death rates have dropped 68% among BC's youth population over the last two decades. This decline is most dramatic for motor vehicle crashes, but all categories show some improvement. The study draws from a variety of sources to look at trends in violence, which is broadly defined as all non-medical causes of death and injury, including non-intentional injuries ("accidents"), suicide and intentional trauma related to criminal activity. Order Report

Violated Boundaries: a health profile of adolescents who have been abused

Child abuse constitutes a major public health problem that is associated with a wide range of deleterious effects across multiple domains of functioning. This technical report looks at data from McCreary's Adolescent Health Survey and investigates the relations between experiences of abuse and youth health. Modified versions of the school-based AHS have been administered to high risk groups such as youth in custody and street youth, which allows comparisons between mainstream youth and high risk youth. Order Report

Between the Cracks: homeless youth in Vancouver

Using qualitative and quantitative data collected by McCreary, this report tells the stories of homeless youth in Vancouver. Individual stories give life and context to the statistics and graphs presented in this report about the lives of youth on Vancouver streets. From this emerges a picture of the struggles of daily life to find food and shelter and the path that lead young people to live a life of survival on the streets.

Homeless Youth: an annotated Bibliography

A wealth of print and electronic materials exist dealing with the issue of homelessness. This annotated bibliography focuses on youth, with a special emphasis on recent materials from the United States and Canada, especially British Columbia. Order Report

2001

Time Out: A Profile of BC Youth in Custody (2001) A survey of youth in custody centres across British Columbia.
Girls' Report: The Health of Girls in BC (2001) An in-depth analysis looking at girls using the 1998 school-based Adolescent Health Survey.
No Place to Call Home: A profile of street youth in British Columbia (2001) A survey of street youth in six BC communities. Order Report

2000

Next Step Project A one day workshop format that engaged youth and adults in using AHS data to identify priority youth issues in their community and make recommendations to addressing these issues. A Workshop Toolkit was developed and a report was compiled using the results of 10 Next Step workshops that happened during the year. The results can be found in the report Our Communities - Our Health: young people discuss solutions to their health issues.
Aboriginal Next Step The Next Step Workshop Toolkit was adapted for use in Aboriginal communities in BC. First Nation project staff conducted workshops in 11 Aboriginal communities and compiled the results in 2 documents: Aboriginal Next Step: results from community youth health workshops and Youth Participation in Aboriginal Communities: feedback from youth and leaders on solutions to youth-related issues.
Making Choices: Sex, Ethnicity, and BC Youth An in-depth analysis of data from the 1998/99 school-based Adolescent Health Survey looking at sexual behaviour, sexual knowledge, and ethnicity.
Raven's Children: Aboriginal Youth Health in BC About 26,000 students participated in AHS II in 1998, including 1700 students who identified themselves as Aboriginal. This project reviews and analyses responses from Aboriginal students
Silk Road: a journey to understanding Chinese youth in BC A profile of the health of Chinese adolescents attending school in BC.
Lighting Up: Tobacco Use Among BC Youth An in-depth analysis of tobacco use using the school-based AHS II data.
Mirror Images: Weight Issues Among BC Youth An in-depth analysis of body image among BC youth using the school-based AHS II data Healthy Connections: Listening to BC Youth (1999) The second Adolescent Health Survey of BC youth in grades 7-12.

1999

Regional reports published from AHS II Regional reports for 22 areas of BC illustrate regional differences and similarities in the health of BC youth.
Our Kids Too - Sexually Exploited Youth in BC: an Adolescent Health Survey A survey of sexually-exploited youth involvement in the sex trade in 4 BC communities.
Being Out - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender Youth in BC: an Adolescent Health Survey A health survey of BC gay youth that addresses issues specific to LGBT youth.

1998

AHS II (provincial report published 1999) The Adolescent Health Survey (AHS) is the most extensive study to date of the physical and emotional health of BC youth. AHS uses a questionnaire to gather information about the current health status of young people, and about factors that can influence health during adolescence and in later life.
The Doctor Project Developed by a young person, this project surveyed youth in care experiences with the medical health care system in BC

1996

BC Youth Health Action Handbook A resource developed to aid youth involvement in communities. It includes information on developing skills, ideas on how to take action, and stories about BC youth who have become involved.

1995

Next Step: Community Health Action by Youth Development of a regional youth health planning seminar format to discuss the results of the 1992 Adolescent Health Survey and identify priority health issues.

1994

Street Youth in Vancouver A health survey of Vancouver street youth and risky behaviour.

1993

Sexual Abuse and Young People with Disabilities This project involved a needs assessment, collection of resource material, the establishment of a professional registry and development investigation guidelines.
Adolescent Health Survey A landmark study assessing the health of BC youth. Regional and provincial data from the survey have been used extensively in health and education planning and program development.