Mental & Emotional Health & Well-being

Mental and emotional health and well-being includes the presence of personal characteristics such as optimism, positive self-worth, emotional well-being and stability, and perceived safety and security. Child and youth mental and emotional health and well-being also includes self-regulating abilities such as coping with challenges and stress, goal directedness, and an orientation toward the future. As well, it encompasses a capacity for connectedness with other people and with one’s culture and community. Finally, it includes freedom from anxiety and depression, early diagnosis of mental health issues, and access to mental health treatments.¹

Key Findings

Some aspects of mental and emotional health are difficult to examine due to a lack of available data, particularly among children. As such, this report focuses on self-reported data from youth to examine mental and emotional health and well-being. 

• Overall, BC youth have a positive view of themselves and their lives; however there are differences across indicators between sexes. Compared to males, fewer females reported positive self-esteem, positive self-rated mental health, and positive life satisfaction. 
• Females considered suicide and attempted suicide at a higher rate than males; however, males had a higher suicide mortality rate. It is further troubling that there are clear geographic differences for these indicators. 
• Data are not yet available to report on the incidence and prevalence of the five most common mental health disorders, or the incidence of mental health drug prescriptions for children and youth, but this will be explored in future reports.

Explore the Indicators: 

#22 Incidence & Prevalence of Most Common Mental Health Disorders

#23 Positive Self-esteem

#24 Positive Self-rated Mental Health

#25 Positive Life Satisfaction

#26 Considered Suicide 

#27 Suicide Rate

#28 Most Common Prescription Mental Health Drugs