The World Health Organization (WHO) affiliated research study of youth aged 11 to 15 years old aims to gain an understanding of young people\u2019s well-being, health behaviours and social experiences. The webinar, which runs from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., will provide an overview and examples of pre-COVID findings in child and adolescent health.<\/p>\n
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Brock Health Sciences Associate Professor William Pickett is a lead investigator in the Canadian Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Study.<\/p><\/div>\n
\u201cThis study has been around for almost 35 years,\u201d says Pickett. \u201cAt its roots, it\u2019s an international study done in affiliation with the WHO. It started with two to three countries in the early 1980s and has grown to include up to 50 countries, with Canada joining in the \u201990s.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Canadian study run out of Queen\u2019s University is led by Pickett, Co-principal Investigator and Queen\u2019s Professor of Psychology Wendy Craig, and National Co-ordinator Matthew King. Brock is a part of a family of post-secondary institutions involved in this research, including McGill University, l\u2019Universit\u00e9 de Montr\u00e9al, McMaster University, University of Waterloo, University of Prince Edward Island and University of British Columbia.<\/p>\n
Funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada and in collaboration with the Pan-Canadian Joint Consortium for School Health (JCSH), the study surveyed 21,000 students in 2018 from 300 schools across Canada in urban, rural and remote communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cJCSH represents provincial, territorial and federal health and education ministries, across the country,\u201d says Pickett. \u201cThey advise us and help us gain access into schools to collect information about health. Young people also advise us on an ongoing basis and, moving forward, it is our hope that Brock University will provide leadership to the HBSC in Canada in terms of youth engagement.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 2018 survey asked questions about health, health behaviours and the factors that influence them. During his talk, Pickett will share information on some of the highlights from the data. He will also provide illustrative examples of the international data, highlighting items like social media use and what it\u2019s like to work with researchers in 50 countries.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important to note that HBSC always wants to approach data collection respectfully,\u201d says Pickett. \u201cIt is for this reason the 2018, pre-COVID study does not include Nunavut. Mainly in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Final Report and Calls to Action, we felt we needed more time to develop relationships in the territory and hamlets, which are predominantly Inuit communities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pickett became involved with the Canadian study in the mid-\u201990s in an advisory role in child injury. He has since worked in several areas to become a Co-principal Investigator and sits on the HBSC International Co-ordinating Committee while helping to direct the study internationally.<\/p>\n
\u201cLooking forward, Niagara\u2019s school communities will see some direct benefits from surveys happening this school year and in the future, particularly in the area of youth engagement,\u201d says Pickett. \u201cI encourage those interested in adolescent health, academics and the general public to join my talk to learn more about the HBSC.\u201d<\/p>\n
This webinar is free and open to the public,\u00a0but registration is required to gain access to the online event. Please\u00a0RSVP\u00a0online via the Lifespan website<\/a>.<\/p>\n