Our Kids Network (OKN) is a Halton-wide partnership of agencies and organizations who work together to ensure that all children and youth thrive. OKN shares research, information, and resources to support professionals in their work with children, youth, and families. Youth mental health is an important priority for OKN and many of the organizations that are part of the network, including the Halton District School Board, Halton Catholic District School Board, and Halton Region Public Health.

In spring 2023, 4,425 grade seven students and 2,869 grade ten students from the Halton District School Board (HDSB) and Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) participated in a set of surveys, which included questions about their general mental health, and related factors including relationships with peers and parents, community belonging, safety, bullying, sleep, screen-time, and substance use. The surveys were conducted to help the Halton community better understand the mental health strengths, challenges and needs of Halton’s youth, and the information will be used to mobilize community partners to continue to take action.

For students in the HCDSB, data were collected throughout May 2023 as part of the board’s Ministry of Education-mandated school climate survey, which was administered to all students in grades 4-12. The school climate survey was revised to include several questions related to mental health. This report only presents data for students in grades 7 and 10 and only for the subset of questions related to mental health and well-being.

For the HDSB, a standalone survey was distributed by Our Kids Network through May and June 2023 to grade 7 and grade 10 students, featuring a subset of questions from the HCDSB survey pertaining to mental health and well-being. Data from the two school boards were combined for analysis. For more information on survey methodology, data analysis, and limitations, please see the Data Notes section of this report. For indicator definitions, see the 2023 Insights into Youth Mental Health and Well-being in Halton Indicator Dictionary. A summary of findings for Halton Region, including estimates by gender, can be found in Appendix A, and results by municipality are available in Appendix B.

Survey respondents

Notes

*another gender identity included: gender fluid, gender nonconforming, non-binary, questioning/unsure, trans boy or man, trans girl or woman, two-spirit, demi-girl, demi-boy, agender, pangender, gender fluid, genderqueer, or more than one gender identity (e.g. both male and female, or male/female and another gender identity). Students who did not provide a gender identity or provided a joke/prank response were excluded from any analyses by gender.

The eligible population is based on student enrollment extracted from Panorama in August 2023 for students born in 2010 (grade seven students) and 2007 (grade ten students) in the HDSB and HCDSB during the 2022-2023 school year.

Not all schools responded to the surveys, with varying response rates by municipality and grade. Overall, there was a higher response rate among grade seven compared to grade ten students. The results therefore may not be representative of all students at these school boards.