Teens in Canada Are Stressed, Kids Help Phone National Survey Finds

Bullying, Relationships and Body Image in Addition to School Grades Contribute to Teen Anxiety

TORONTO, Sept. 15, 2015 /CNW/ - New insights about teens in Canada from Kids Help Phone's landmark survey Teens Talk: A Report on Youth Issues learned that 42 per cent of teens are stressed, and the number increases to 50 per cent among older teens (age 18).

"For over 25 years, Kids Help Phone has directly supported young people through our phone and online counselling services. We know their needs have evolved and we need to continuously adapt," said Sharon Wood, President and CEO, Kids Help Phone. "For the first time, we surveyed teens in Canada directly to hear what's on their mind. The insight we gained will help us better serve young people and to shape the public dialogue on help seeking."

As a leading charity dedicated to young people, Kids Help Phone conducted the survey with two goals: to broaden and build on its understanding of teens across the country and not just teens who contact Kids Help Phone, and to share the learning with parents, educators and other youth-serving organizations to better support the young people in their lives.

More than 1,300 teens age 13 to 18 were surveyed across Canada. Aside from getting good grades at school, which is the number one cause of stress for teens (49 per cent), the results showed some significant trends:

• Close to 30 per cent of teens are concerned about physical and emotional bullying. The issue is a vicious cycle; those that are bullied have a 50 per cent chance of bullying as well.
• Body image concerns affect more girls than boys. A third of 18-year-old girls say they have body image issues.
• The need to discuss their concerns is critical. Young people who said they did not have someone to talk to are also 200 per cent more likely to be victims of violence at home, have suicidal thoughts and experience emotional differences.
• Peer support is critical among teens. Fifty-five per cent share with their best friends when they are ready to talk.

Other findings include concerns about relationships with friends (27 per cent) and family (25 per cent), with younger teens having problems with friends and older teens with family. French-speaking teens have significantly higher concerns about drug and addiction issues (26 per cent), compared to eight percent in English Canada.

"Teens Talk confirmed our belief that many young people in Canada need help and they need to know where they can find it," said Wood. "Twenty per cent of the respondents express concern that they have no one to confide in. With 2.25 million teens in Canada, some 450,000 may be in need of counselling. Parents, educators and youth service providers can all help by checking in regularly with the young people in their lives and let them know help is always available."

Methodology and Access to the Report

In May 2015, Kids Help Phone surveyed 1,330 teens from across the country between the ages of 13 to 18.  The respondents were recruited using online opt-in panels where they filled census proportional quotas for province of residence, age, gender and language.

The full report can be found at http://www.kidshelpphone.ca/TeensTalk

About Kids Help Phone

Kids Help Phone is Canada's only national helpline for young people. Since 1989, it has offered kids and teens hope and support through its confidential and anonymous service. As an organization that speaks with young people every day, Kids Help Phone works to share their perspectives and improve their well-being on a societal level. Kids Help Phone raises the majority of its revenue from individuals, foundations, corporations, and community fundraising.

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SOURCE Kids Help Phone

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