Survey: youths struggling with gambling, eating disorders

GUELPH – The state of mental health among youth appears to be improving from pandemic days, according to the 2026 the Well-being and Health Youth (WHY) survey presented to the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health board of health on Nov. 4.

But life is not rosy for all youth. And there are signs that gambling is troublesome for male students; that female students continue to suffer with eating disorders; and that students who identify as neither male nor female might experience the most challenges of all.

The self-reported survey of students in grades 4 to 12, is conducted in partnership with the Upper Grand and Wellington Catholic school boards, and this year included grades 4 to 6 students in the French-language Catholic board.

The survey began in 2019 and is completed every two years, so there is now enough data to identify trends.

The 2022 and 2024 surveys suggested how much young people were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, by virtual learning and by being separated from their peers.

Mental health

On a positive note, mental health among youth seems to be improving, according to the latest data.

“Fifty-two per cent of students scored high on the positive mental health scale, which includes indicators such as ‘I feel hopeful about my future,’ ‘I feel proud of myself’ and ‘I feel in control of my life,’ continuing an increase since 2022 and returning close to 2019 levels,” the report states.

Fifty-nine per cent of students said they feel connected to their peers, and the proportion of students reporting thoughts of suicide has decreased to 13% from 16% in 2024.

And 19% reported thoughts of self-harm, down from 21% in 2024.

However, 23% of students reported struggling with peer pressure – a trend that’s been on the rise since 2019; and 37% reported not seeking professional help because of fear of what others might think.

Substance abuse

Substance use is another area with encouraging changes, according to the report.

“Twenty-six percent of students in grades 7 to 12 reported drinking alcohol in the past year, continuing a decline seen across previous survey cycles,” the report states.

“Decreases were also observed in the use of e-cigarettes, cannabis, prescription pain pills without a prescription, sedatives and cough medicine to get high, as well as in the percentage of students who identified as current smokers.”

However, the proportion of students in grades 4 to 6 reporting that they had tried cannabis, other drugs or alcohol, has increased from previous levels.

Among grades 7 to 12 students who reported drinking alcohol in the past year, 52% reported binge drinking.

Extracurriculars

More students in grades 7 to 12 are now participating in youth programs like sports and arts programs – 56% in 2026 compared to 50% in 2024 and 38% in 2022.

As well, 50% said they feel like a valued part of their community, up from 46% in 2024.

Bullying

Some 65% of respondents said they have reported bullying to an adult, up from 54% in 2024.

But bullying itself, at school or on the bus, increased to 33%, while 22% reported being bullied outside of school.

Screen time

One in five students (20%) reported spending more than two hours per day on social media, similar to 2024. 

Meanwhile, 10% of students in grades 7 to 12 reported stealing in the past year, an increase from 8.3% in 2024.

Gender

Students who identified as a gender other than male or female had more thoughts of suicide (56%); had harmed themselves in the past 12 months (43%); and had used sedatives in the past year (4%).

In the past 12 months,  12% of female students experienced non-consensual sexual activities, 15% had harmed themselves, 5% had attempted suicide and 10% had a high score on the psychological distress scale (10%).

Meanwhile, over the past year, male students reported higher proportions of gambling though online games (9%), online sports betting (12%) and playing two or more hours of video games each day (29%).

Food insecurity

Food insecurity and eating-related concerns have emerged as important areas for continued monitoring, the report states.

About 15% of students say they worry that food will run out at home, 36% reported disordered eating behaviours and 47% reported that their weight or shape impacted the way they judge themselves.

Data from the report is shared with school boards and community partners as they identify priorities, programs and resources to address issues raised.

“Continued engagement and a range of knowledge-sharing products will help ensure that WHY Survey findings remain accessible and useful to schools, community partners, youth and the public,” the report concludes.