March 4, 2002
Growing up might be the biggest adventure of your life! Being an adolescent in any generation has always been challenging. But it has perhaps been the most exciting time of that person’s life — this may be more true today than ever as our young people have both the advantages of more information and a whole new set of dangers in addition to the old ones.
Adolescence is a time to learn; it is a time of transition from being a child to being an adult. Young people experience the intense and uneven emotional and physical changes associated with puberty and their changing social context. They move from middle to high school, increase their autonomy and begin to set their course for adult life. During this time, they are in search of self-identity; peers become ever more important as the need to belong increases.
On the whole, today’s youth have higher levels of education than prior generations. They are increasingly involved in civic affairs and initiatives and are more likely to be volunteering in their communities. Young people also experience a strong desire to experiment with new freedoms and behaviours in their attempts to establish identities.
On the other side of the coin, adolescence remains a troubled time. Canada continues to see high rates of suicide among young people, mainly young men. As an indicator of relatively high levels of stress and depression, this is particularly troubling. During the 1990s, substance abuse had a resurgence among youth, as did the rate of multiple-risk behaviours.
The biggest health challenges facing our youth might be grouped into four categories: sex, drugs & alcohol, tobacco, and driving. The McCreary Center Society did a survey in 2000 and identified some of these risks. Smoking among those aged 12-18 years continues to be a concern: in British Columbia, 28% of this age group have smoked in the last month; in the Coast Garibaldi region, 30%. The incidence of teen pregnancies remains high at 39.9% per 1000 for all of BC girls of ages 15-19 years. In our region, the rate is again higher at 43.1%.
As difficult as it might be to admit, our kids are having sex. They are using and abusing substances of various sorts and driving continues to be lethal for many. Our next article will look into some of these challenges in more detail.
It is especially important to note, however, that there are wonderful examples among young people in our communities. As mentioned, they are more active as volunteers and in civic activities. They are better informed about the world around them, their environment and even their own health. Good thing, too, because the world is in their hands.
— 30 — Call-out: “Adolescence is a time to learn. It is a time of transition from child to adult.”