- Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth aged 12-18
in British Columbia.
- More than one in five females and one in ten males reported that they
had deliberately self harmed (cut or injured themselves) without the intention
of committing suicide (McCreary Adolescent Health Survey, 2008).
- Finding safe affordable housing, acquiring adult responsibilities, becoming
independent and becoming a self-advocate are common issues among youth
transitioning into adulthood. (Listening to Vulnerable Youth: Transitioning
to Adulthood in BC, 2008).
- There is good reason to suspect that when the transition from foster
care is not well supported, youth are at greater risk for homelessness,
sexual exploitation, victimization, and involvement in the criminal justice
and child welfare systems (When Youth Age Out of Care, 2007).
- Youth are particularly vulnerable to being physically assaulted by their
boyfriend or girlfriend, including youth who had been sexually abused,
students with a disability or chronic illness and gay, lesbian and bisexual
students (McCreary Adolescent Health Survey, 2008).
- Among disabled students, those whose disability or debilitating health
condition was visible to others were more likely to report physical abuse
and sexual abuse, and were twice as likely to report being both physically
and sexually abused, than those who did not (15% vs. 7%) (McCreary Adolescent
Health Survey, 2008).
- Canada’s interest rates on post-secondary student loans are approximately
three times as high as rates in other developed nations including the
United States, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Australia. New Zealand
and Germany do not charge interest on student loans, and the UK only charges
after the borrower has a minimum yearly income of about $26,000 CND (Coalition
for Student Loan Fairness, 2008).
- Youth crime is declining across Canada, and in BC the rates have been
dropping for almost 15 years (PLEA, 2008). BC had the 2nd steepest decline
in youth admitted to sentenced custody from 2004/05 to 2008/09 -- down
42% from 568 youth to 325 (Statistics Canada, 2008).
