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More girls than boys in Fraser North struggle with mental health

Girls may be having a harder time with adolescence than boys but that could be because they hit puberty earlier and are more tied to their smart phones, says School District 43 assistant superintendent Julie Pearce.

Girls may be having a harder time with adolescence than boys but that could be because they hit puberty earlier and are more tied to their smart phones, says School District 43 assistant superintendent Julie Pearce.

Girls struggle with self-esteem and stress, she said, but the longtime administrator also pointed out that girls mature earlier than boys and experience emotional highs and lows more readily. Many don't get enough sleep, either, because they are talking or texting on their cell phones after they are supposed to be asleep.

"They can get to a place where they are over-tired, they are depressed and there is hopelessness and impulsive behaviour," Pearce said, noting that problems with lack of sleep can affect boys as well as girls.

Concerns raised about suicide attempts

Her comments are based on the results of a recent survey of Fraser North students, including 1,400 SD43 Grade 7 to 12 students, which suggests teen girls seem to be struggling more than boys. For example, according to the 2013 BC Adolescent Health Survey released last month by the McCreary Centre Society, fewer females than males report feeling good about themselves, and more girls are feeling extreme stress and despair than their male peers.

Even more alarming were the rates of reported attempted suicide (9% for girls, 4% for boys). Pearce speculated that some of the responses were the emotional fallout from the high-profile suicide in 2012 of Amanda Todd, a Port Coquitlam teen who took her own life after posting a video of her troubles.

"We call it 'suicide contagion,'" Pearce said, adding, "There is no question that created a challenge both in our district and provincially."

The McCreary study, which was conducted about six months after the tragedy, is likely showing that students were still processing Todd's death and their own feelings of despair and low self-worth.

Still, there is good news in the report.

Fewer youths are using alcohol and tobacco, and students are delaying their experimentation. Pearce speculates the middle school system, where kids in Grades 6 to 8 stay together, is delaying the time when youth try drugs and alcohol.

"We are keeping the kids younger for longer," she said.

Pearce said she is also pleased to see that students feel safe at their schools and she hopes that a focus on social responsibility is making a difference in schools and a safety committee established since Todd's death is also working together to support vulnerable youth.

Mental health stats

BY THE NUMBERS

Some statistics from to the 2013 BC Adolescent Health Survey released last month by the McCreary Centre Society: Fraser North includes Burnaby, New Westminster, School District 43 and Maple Ridge school districts.

Getting along

missed school because of bullying: 4% females, 2% males;

were teased in the past year: 38% (32% males, 44% females); up from 32% in 2008;

teased someone else: 11% (13% males, 10% females);

were socially excluded in past year: 34% (25% males, 42% females); increase for females from 36% in 2008, no change for males;

socially excluded others: 15% (13% males, 17% females);

were physically attacked or assaulted: 7% (9% males, 5% females);

As well, survey respondents gave reasons they believed they were discriminated against (note: they could choose more than one response):

physical appearance: 19%;

being seen as different: 13%;

race, ethnicity or skin colour: 13%;

age: 8%;

gender/sex: 6%;

income or family income: 5%;

sexual orientation: 4%;

disability: 3%.

safe AT SCHOOL?

Students in Fraser North felt safer in every area of their school in 2013 than in 2008. In terms of overall feelings of safety at school, 79% agreed or strongly agreed that they felt safe at school. Youths who felt safe at school were also more likely to rate their overall health as good or excellent (90% versus 69%) as well as their mental health (85% versus 49%).

@dstrandbergTC