Tag Archives: Youth Isolation

For Teens Who Drink and Do Drugs, Here’s How to Reduce the Harm

Editor’s notes: “In Local Health Area 72 (Campbell River), which includes Cortes and Quadra Islands, 13.5 litres of absolute alcohol are sold per person. This is considerably higher than the Island Health average of 10.9 and the provincial average of 9.0. Given that one litre of absolute alcohol is equivalent to 58 standard drinks, residents of LHA 72 are consuming 783 alcoholic beverages annually, on average”from the the Cortes Island and Quadra Island profiles

“In Vancouver Island North, which includes Campbell River, Cortes and Quadra Islands, 52% of youth have tried alcohol, compared to 45% provincially. Similarly, 37% of Vancouver Island North youth have tried marijuana, compared to 26% provincially. Tobacco sees a similar trend, with 29% of Vancouver Island North youth trying tobacco, compared to 21% of youth provincially”from the Cortes Island and Quadra Island profiles

By Michelle Gamage, The Tyee, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

About 40 per cent of Canadian teenagers drank alcohol in the last year and one in five used cannabis, according to a bi-annual Health Canada survey that asks kids about substances. 

The 2021-22 Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey was filled out by 61,096 kids from Grade 7 to 12 — typically 12 to 17 — in all provinces except New Brunswick, which opted out. This is its 11th year collecting data on tobacco, alcohol, cannabis and drug use. 

Continue reading For Teens Who Drink and Do Drugs, Here’s How to Reduce the Harm

Extended pandemic feeds anxieties of Campbell River youth

Campbell River Mirror, Local Journalism Reporter

Lately, when 15-year-old K (name withheld to protect identity) arrives outside her school in Campbell River, nervousness sets in.

Her legs start shaking, her entire body begins to tremble and she gives way to uncontrollable sobbing.

Her parents eventually turn the car around and take her back home, to try again the next day.

The heightened anxiety attacks are new for both K and her parents, especially because their daughter is an above average student and has never had a problem going to school until a couple months ago, says K’s mother.

Continue reading Extended pandemic feeds anxieties of Campbell River youth

Cortes Foundation Requests $50,000 SRD Grant

Though the Cortes Island Community Foundation (CICF) only recently came into being, and is currently applying for charitable status. It is already an important voice on Cortes Island. In 2018/2019, CICF partnered with the Cortes Island Seniors Society to raise over $1 million dollars for the housing development widely known as Rainbow Ridge. On September 28th, 2019, the Cortes Foundation brought together more than 50 people from 30 organizations for the first Cortes Social Profit (not-for-profit) sector meeting. On May 12, the Cortes Foundation applied for a $50,000 SRD grant.

Continue reading Cortes Foundation Requests $50,000 SRD Grant

Problems Of Remote Vancouver Island Schools

Campbell River Mirror, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Post COVID-19, remote schools on Vancouver Island will have to deal with more than than just pandemic-imposed disruptions. While pre-existing problems, especially with transportation, are going to intensify, schools will also have to deal with a broad spectrum of vulnerable students. 

Canada

Prolonged Isolation Threatens Youth’s State Of Mind

National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Outreach workers are running errands or dropping off milkshakes, to get face time with vulnerable kids trapped at home during the pandemic. Counsellors are conducting therapy sessions in parks to better gage a youth’s state of mind while still adhering to distancing protocols. Youth workers are doing what they can to reach isolated children and teens living in the North Island region of Vancouver Island, B.C., and support their mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Continue reading Prolonged Isolation Threatens Youth’s State Of Mind