Did You Know?

More than half of participants in the BC Healthy Connections Project reported experiencing moderate-to-severe neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse and/or sexual abuse when they were children, at age 16 years or younger. Half (50%) also reported intimate partner violence within the past year.

Many young people are prescribed medications for ADHD, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia — often with good effect. The appropriate medications can help young people to function better at home, at school and in the community. Yet more research is needed on the long-term effects — and side effects — of the psychiatric medications used to treat children, particularly research that is free from drug company involvement. For more information, see Vol. 1, No. 4 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.

Some 89% of participants in the BC Healthy Connections Project had experienced three or more forms of disadvantage, with 77% experiencing four or more and 56% experiencing five or more. These experiences include: parenting at a young age; living on low income; having limited education; preparing for single parenting; experiencing housing instability; having challenges with anxiety or depression; having challenges with substance use; having a history of being maltreated as a child; and experiencing intimate partner violence.

Exposure to intimate partner violence is one of the most common forms of child maltreatment. Recent studies suggest that one of the best ways to help children in this situation is to help the abused caregiver, for example, to obtain safe housing and to learn strategies to address children’s emotional and behavioural challenges. For more information, see Vol. 6, No. 4 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.

June 21 marks National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada — a day to recognize and celebrate the heritage and cultures of First Nations, Inuitand Métis Indigenous children have experienced, and still experience, the negative legacy of colonialism. But many Indigenous children remain resilient. While these numbers need to be improved, a recent survey of nearly 5,000 First Nations youth in Canada found that more than half reported having very good or excellent mental health. For more information, see Vol. 12, No. 2, page 5 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.

Most participants in the BC Healthy Connections Project reported coping with long-term health conditions that affected their day-to-day lives. Nearly half (47%) reported having mental health problems including severe anxiety or depression. Many also reported prenatal substance use including nicotine/cigarettes (27%), cannabis (21%), alcohol (2%) and other street drugs (1%).

Childhood depression can often be prevented. In particular, when young people are offered effective interventions, like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, it is possible to stop depression from developing.For more information, see Vol. 11, No. 3 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.

Participants in the BC Healthy Connections Project were selected based on experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage — and therefore have struggled financially. Most (83%) in fact were living on less than $20,000 pre-tax annually. Related to this, nearly half (47%) had also experienced homelessness at some time in their lives, and a third (34%) had had to move three or more times in the past year.

For many children, medications are a part of the treatment plan. Before starting any medication, physicians should always describe the associated risks and benefits so young people and their families can make informed decisions. Physicians should also carefully monitor children to ensure that benefits are maximized and side effects minimized. For more information, see Vol. 2, No. 2 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly. 

The purpose of the Nurse-Family Partnership program is to help young, first-time mothers facing socioeconomic disadvantage. The BC Healthy Connections Project set out to recruit a cohort reflecting that population. So nearly half of participants (49%) were age 14–19 years while just over half (51%) were age 20–24 years.