What do we know about the health needs of young people in Canada? Are programs and services available to youth meeting their needs? These are some of the questions driving the research of the Stigma and Resilience Among Vulnerable Youth Centre, lead under the direction of Dr. Elizabeth Saewyc, Professor in the UBC School of Nursing.

Over the last year, researchers with SARAVYC published studies in various journals using data from the BC Adolescent Health Survey (BCAHS). This survey of British Columbia youth is done every five years by the McCreary Centre Society, a non-profit agency dedicated to improving youth health through research, education, and community projects.

These studies have been the focus of four UBC media releases. In July 2013, a study about the sexual health practices of East Asian BC youth was released. This study found that although the vast majority of youth who self-identify as East Asian are not sexually active, those who are may be engaging in risky behaviours. This study was the first population-based survey in Canada that asked East Asian adolescents their reasons for abstaining from sex.

In August of 2013, SARAVYC research was the focus of a UBC media release on the relationship between gay straight alliances in Canadian schools and the prevalence of binge drinking. This study found that the presence of an established gay straight alliance club in a school had a positive influence on the rates of problem drinking among gay and straight students who attend the school.

The study used data from the British Columbia Adolescent Health Survey to look at whether students’ odds of recent substance use were lower in schools with recent or more established anti-homophobia policies and gay straight alliances compared to schools without these strategies.

In January 2014, UBC Nursing researchers published a study that found that anti homophobia interventions such as gay straight alliances in schools reduce the risk of youth suicide and suicidal thoughts among both straight and sexual minority youth.

“We know that LGBTQ students are at higher risk for suicide, in part because they are more often targeted for bullying and discrimination,” says Saewyc, lead author of the study. “But heterosexual students can also be the target of homophobic bullying. When policies and supportive programs like GSAs are in place long enough to change the environment of the school, it’s better for students’ mental health, no matter what their orientation.”

This study garnered widespread attention from mainstream media across North America, and social media platforms such as Reddit.com.

UBC Nursing researchers hope that these studies will provide evidence to policy makers, educators, and service providers to continue to ensure that services meet the needs of all students.