STUDENTS TO BE SURVEYED SOON

Question Topics Include Drug Use, Sexuality and Safety

Students in Burnaby will participate in the Adolescent Health Survey,
an upcoming provincewide questionnaire on physical and emotional
health for teens.

Burnaby school trustees passed a motion at the last board meeting to
allow the McCreary Centre Society to survey Burnaby students.

The non-profit society administers the survey, with help from the
Fraser Health Authority. The survey is set to take place between
February and May.

Students in grades 7 to 12 are randomly selected for participation.
The survey covers experiences that can lead to illness, injury or
death during the teen years. Questions are related to healthy
adolescent development including body image; drug, alcohol and tobacco
use; school achievement; sexual behaviour; injuries and injury
prevention; experiences with violence and discrimination; and seatbelt
use. The 30- to 45-minute survey is confidential - students don't put
their names on the questionnaire. Data collected is used by health
planners, educators and community organizations to develop youth
programs and services. Grade 7 students will have to get signed
permission from their parents to do the survey, but high school
students can decide for themselves.

However, no student is forced to fill in the questionnaire, and
parents or guardians have the right to refuse student
participation.

The survey is funded by the Ministry of Children and Family
Development and the Ministry of Health. Participation doesn't cost the
district anything.