Substance Use
What percent of Nova Scotian youth reported vaping in the last 30 days?
25.1%, compared to 20.2% nationally.
What percent of students in grades 6 to 10 reported low life satisfaction?
19.9%, compared to 17.8 percent of students in other provinces and territories.
What estimated percent of children 17 years and younger were living in families experiencing poverty resulting in deprivation of their most basic material needs like food, clothing, and shelter in 2019?
11.7% of children (approximately 1 in 9). This was above the national average of 9.7%.
What physical and mental health conditions are indigenous populations at higher risk of?
arthritis, asthma, diabetes, dental and ear conditions, headaches, burns, fractures, and mental and emotional challenges, including suicide. Despite this, they were less likely to be diagnosed, treated, or referred for specialist care than non-First Nations children.
What is the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development?
A shared blueprint for partnership, peace, and prosperity for all people and the planet which is set to implement 17 shared global goals for progress on core challenges facing countries worldwide such as climate change.
Is there a gender difference in Nova Scotian youth who vape?
The rates of vaping among females has significantly increased, effectively closing the gap between genders.
What percentage of Nova Scotian youth report being bullied in grades 7 to 12?
Grades 7 to 9: 31.2% in Nova Scotia vs. 23.6% nationally.
Grades 10-12: 27.1% in Nova Scotia vs. 19.9% nationally.
37.9% of families with children or youth living at home spent more than what percent of their monthly income on housing in 2019?
They spent more than 30% of their income on housing. Housing is considered unaffordable when it costs 30% or more of a household’s before-tax income
What percent of indigenous children reported higher rates of feeling less respected because of their family’s income?
24.0% compared to 16% of their peers.
How does climate change compund disparities among individuals?
Environmental hazards, including those exacerbated by climate change, are disproportionately located near communities of color. This phenomenon, known as environmental racism, reflects systemic inequalities in the placement of polluting industries and the allocation of resources for environmental protection.
What percent of youth in Nova Scotia reported engaging in high-risk drinking in the previous year?
24.8%, compared to 23.4% nationally.
What estimated percent of children and youth ages 5 to 17 years in Nova Scotia had been diagnosed by a health professional as having an anxiety disorder?
7.3%, compared to an estimated 5% in Canada as a whole.
Children in Nova Scotia whose families have the lowest quintile of income are more likely to report what?
Having low life satisfaction, low self-confidence, feeling sad, depressed, or lonely. They are less likely to trust others, be involved in organized sports, eat fruits and vegetables and think it’s safe for kids to play outside.
The period that marks this mass removal of Indigenous children from their families and placement in non-Indigenous foster care.
Sixties scoop. This has impacted Nova Scotian First Nations children and disrupted the passage of language and cultural traditions to future generations
Why is active transportation an important strategy to address climate change?
Because of our urgent need to reduce GHG emissions. This also helps students living in more rural regions who may not have easy access to active travel opportunities.
What percent of youth report that they do not know the harms associated with regular or occasional use of e-cigarettes
8% of Nova Scotian youth.
What percent of students in grades 6 to 10 reported a period of feeling so sad or hopeless each day for two weeks or more in a row?
33.8%, compared to 30.3% in other provinces and territories.
What percentage of children in Nova Scotia lived in a food-insecure household in 2018?
19.5% (or one in five) children. This is compared to the national average of 17.3%.
How is well-being for Indigenous peoples viewed?
Holistically and through an understanding of the interconnectedness of the individual, community, and natural environment.
Climate change models predict an increase in the number of cases of what disease in Nova Scotia?
Lyme disease.
What percentage of Nova Scotian students have been a passenger in a car where the driver was under the influence of alcohol or cannabis?
25% of students in grades 7 to 9 and almost 50% of students in grades 10 to 12.
What percentage of Nova Scotian students in grades 6 to 10 agreed that “school is a nice place to be.”
50.7% of students. This is compared with 64.1 percent of their peers in other provinces and Territories.
What are ways to reduce or prevent adverse childhood experiences relating to economic well-being?
Protective policies that ensure affordable, quality housing and financial security through a living wage.
What legal rule in Canada was established to resolve jurisdictional disputes arising between provincial, territorial and federal governments related to the payment of services for First Nations children?
Jordan’s Principle. The rule is named in honour of Jordan River Anderson, a First Nations child born with complex medical needs who died in hospital rather than in his community while waiting for the federal and provincial governments to decide who was financially responsible for his care
Why is smog of special concern to Nova Scotians?
Because we have some of the highest rates of asthma and heart disease in Canada. Smog can also harm vegetation, forestry, crops, and many materials used in buildings.