A youth survey and recent Communities That Care (CTC) Squamish report shines light on the well being of Squamish youth.
The recently released third annual CTC assessment report: The Future of Squamish Youth showed a drop in some risky behaviors and improvements in factors that protect youth, such as an increase in opportunities at school for involvement and family attachment, according to Christine Buttkus, CTC technical consultant with Communities That Care-Sea to Sky.
Risks to youth include substance use, delinquency, teen pregnancy, dropping out of school, violence, depression and anxiety.
Communities That Care focuses on youth in Grades 6 through 12, their families and schools.
The survey of Squamish youth was conducted in October of 2013.
Though usage is down, substance use remains an issue for the community to watch, according to the report.
About 35 per cent of Squamish youth surveyed reported consuming alcohol in the previous 30-days. That figure is down from over 50 per cent in 2005. The percentage of Squamish youth who perceived community laws and norms favourable toward substance use also decreased from 60 per cent in 2005 to 37 per cent.
Binge drinking fell to less than 30 per cent from 40 per cent in 2005; however 50 per cent of surveyed Squamish Grade 12s reported binge drinking in the previous two weeks.
Communities that Care has worked with the District of Squamish and the school district to adopt a municipal alcohol policy in their facilities, the report said.
Cigarette smoking rates remained relatively unchanged at around 10 per cent. Marijuana use was at 20 per cent in 2013, down from almost 30 per cent in 2005.
As might be expected, the higher the grade, the higher the percentage for each behavior.
The report showed that depression among youth continues to be something that the community needs to be mindful of, with more than 50 per cent of Squamish Grade 12s reporting depressive symptoms. Depression is a new factor being considered in the report.
According to a news release on the report, Sea to Sky Community Services Society programs, such as The Strengthening Families Program are conscious community efforts that help prevent risk factors among Squamish youth and contributed to the improvements seen in the survey.
The community could work on how individuals and organizations in Squamish can reward youth in Grades 8 to 12 for their pro-social behaviour, according to Buttkus. Research shows rewarding positive behaviours helps prevent risk factors, the report said.
Some 1,171 students at Squamish schools completed the CTC Youth Survey. Squamish is home to approximately 4,400 youth 0 to 19 years of age, which equates to about 26 per cent of the district’s population, according to the report.
To view the complete report, go to ctcseatosky.com.
