Province Responding to Youth Mental Health, Addictions

NOTE: The Student Drug Use Survey will be available shortly at http://novascotia.ca/dhw.

The province is reaching out to parents, community groups and young people themselves to help teens struggling with alcohol, drugs and depression.

It is providing more resources to parents, more support in schools, and expanding community-based prevention and treatment services.

The 2012 Student Drug Use Survey, which assesses students in grades 7, 9, 10 and 12 every five years, looks at drug, alcohol use, gambling, and sexual activity. This year, for the first time, it included questions around mental health and suicide, and energy drinks.

"As parents and grandparents, we don't want to believe that our children are at risk. This survey tells us, they could be," said Marilyn More, Minister responsible for the Status of Women, on behalf of Health and Wellness Minister David Wilson. "These are the kinds of issues that keep parents up at night. I want them to have the information they need to talk to their children earlier and often, to recognize when they need help, and to find it."

Some results are encouraging. For example, more than 43 per cent of students said they had not used any of the substances included in the survey, and the average age for teens to begin smoking cigarettes or cannabis have both gone up.

However, there are troubling details in the report, including the number of teens who reported they had seriously considered suicide and the number who had unplanned sex under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

"It is very important for parents and their teens to maintain open lines of communication," said Dr. Kathleen Pajer, chief of the IWK's department of psychiatry. "When there is an active relationship between a teen and his or her parents, the youth has a safety net. When things get tough, the teen will then be more likely to feel that the parent can help.

"Parents, in turn, need to know how to get help for their adolescent. It is important that we educate them about community resources and mental health services."

Vanda Dow, a parent and president of Federation of Nova Scotia Home and School Associations, agreed that the report can help open a dialogue between parents or guardians and their children.

"Parents are very concerned about the mental health of their children and also their alcohol and drug use, and welcome any information that could assist them to help their children make good choices," said Ms. Dow.

Ms. More said the province will use survey data to make decisions about programs and policies that will help teens and their families.

It has also recently created a new website, providing information on resources, and is developing a handbook for parents, as well as asking young people for advice on why they are making the choices they are, and what will influence them to make different ones.

The province is seeking advice from independent national experts on how to enhance mental health supports for children and youth in schools. More schools are also benefitting from mental health clinicians and the mental health crisis line is available provincewide.

The prescription drug monitoring program is also now available 24/7, so prescribing physicians have round-the-clock access to patient prescription records

"Families, health and education professionals, community groups and governments across the country are struggling with these issues, and there are no easy answers," said Ms. More. "But Nova Scotians care deeply about their children and I believe are willing to do whatever it takes to give them the help and hope they need."

The province is also working with health professionals and partners to ensure students have relevant and current information about the dangers of prescription drug abuse.

"Support can come from a trusted adult, parents, teachers, coaches and organizations like Kids Help Phone," said Alisa Simon, vice-president of counselling services and programs at Kids Help Phone. "It is through strengthening resiliency, fostering hope and ensuring young people have safe places to turn that we, together, can ensure all of our youth have opportunities for good mental health and well-being."

Information on available resources for families and youth are at www.novascotia.ca.