More high-schoolers reporting anxiety, learning challenges, study finds

The number of Quebec high school students who say they have had to deal with mental health problems jumped by eight percentage points compared with six years ago, a study made public Wednesday by the Institut de la statistique du Québec suggests. The report, which examines the health of Quebec high school students between 2016 and 2017, found that the proportion of respondents reporting mental health problems stood at 29 per cent compared with the 21 per cent recorded in the institute’s study for 2010-2011. Meanwhile, the proportion of students reporting problems from attention deficit disorder or hyperactivity jumped from 13 to 23 per cent. There was also an increase in the number of students affected by problems with anxiety. Six years ago that proportion stood around nine per cent while the latest study places it at 17 per cent. The survey polled 62,000 young people who filled out a questionnaire on mental and physical health, as well as their lifestyle choices. The responses on physical health saw little change from the results garnered six years ago, with 72 per cent of respondents saying their health was excellent while about 21 per cent said they were overweight. If fewer teens are smoking and drinking than six years ago, the institute’s numbers suggest their eating habits have not changed for the better. Fewer teens are eating the recommended amount of fruits, vegetables or milk, and the number of students who don’t eat breakfast has also increased compared with six years ago. Children and youth can access Kids Help Phone at any time online, by text or by calling 800-6686868.