youth — Blog — Sage Perspectives Blog

Rising Prevalence and Incidence Trends in children and youth with ADHD in Ontario, Canada

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a childhood-onset neurodevelopmental disorder. This condition can impair academic, social, and/or occupational functions. For these reasons, it is important to conduct surveillance of ADHD trends over time for the purpose of planning for healthcare services and resources. Yet, studies on the prevalence and incidence rates for ADHD in Canada have largely used case-finding algorithms applied to health administrative data that have not been adequately validated so it is unclear how accurate these algorithms are at detecting cases of ADHD.

Research, Editor's PicksRachel WolfeDecember 1, 2023children, youth, ADHD, Canada

Want to be a Champion for Youth? Explore and Excavate Your Prejudices and Bias

Youth with even one safe and responsive adult in their lives report significantly fewer mental health-related concerns. These adult supporters, known as Youth Champions, have a direct, positive impact on youth mental wellbeing by inspiring participation at school, reducing engagement in high-risk behaviors, and increasing the likelihood youth will flourish in adulthood. As simplistic as it may be to be a “safe and responsive adult,” we “grownups” can make it very complicated in real life due to our own prejudices and biases.

Research, Editor's PicksRachel WolfeAugust 18, 2023youth, mental health, LGBTQIA2S+, Antiracism

Time for Global Action on Youth Mental Health

There is growing recognition that the mental health of young people has reached a crisis point. Many countries are experiencing a rising demand for mental health care by young people that cannot be met by services, leading to excessive wait times. The potential consequences of this crisis are staggering on an individual and societal level. Young people deserve a promising future that is not eroded by the burden of mental illness.

ResearchRachel WolfeAugust 4, 2023youth, mental health, healthcare, global action

Developing and Evaluating a School-Based Tobacco and E-Cigarette Prevention Program for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Youth

Tobacco use, a leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., most frequently begins in adolescence. E-cigarettes are now the most widely used tobacco products among adolescents and young adults, and the prevalence of vaping among young people threatens to roll back years of progress in tobacco prevention and control. School-based programming has a critical place in tobacco prevention efforts for youth. Given the shifting trends in product use, these programs increasingly focus on e-cigarettes/vaping.

ResearchWehida NiaziJune 1, 2023tobacco, deaf, e-cigarettes, youth

Youth Use Collaborative Filmmaking to Visualize Mental Health Experiences

In our research study, “Visualizing Mental Health through the Lens of Pittsburgh Youth” we used a new research method called Collaborative Filmmaking to work with youth to share their experiences of mental health through the creation of short films.

ResearchMaria Pia TissotMay 23, 2023mental health, filmmaking, youth

Rise Up: Understanding Youth Social Entrepreneurs and Their Ecosystems

Youth are a powerful force for positive change in the world. A growing number of young people who care about a wide array of issues—gun reform, climate change, education, racial justice, health care, and voting rights—are rising up to take action on these vital social issues and, in doing so, shaping their own and society’s collective future. Across the globe, young people are growing impatient with inaction; they will not allow ignorance and inertia to win. Following the tradition of youth-led movements that have changed the world by fighting for civil rights in the United States, eradicating corruption in Brazil, and ending dictatorships around the world, youth changemakers are taking positive action to create societal change. They are working to accomplish a mission codified by our research partner, Future Coalition—a youth-founded and youth-led social action organization— to make the future a better, safer, and more just place for everyone.