2005 OSDUS Mental Health and Well-Being Report: Backgrounder

History

CAMH’s Ontario Student Drug Use Survey (OSDUS) is the longest ongoing survey of adolescents in Canada
From 1968 to 1974, the survey monitored the extent of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use among Toronto students in grades 7, 9, 11 and 13
In 1977, the study was expanded to include students throughout Ontario
In 1991, the study was expanded to include indicators of mental health and well-being
The OSDUS Mental Health and Well-Being Report is a companion document to the report Drug Use Among Ontario Students, 1977 - 2005: Detailed OSDUS Finding

The purpose is to identify epidemiological trends in mental health (e.g., depression), physical activity, risky behaviour (e.g., violence, gambling), and student drug use, as well as identifying risk factors
Surveys like the OSDUS contribute to an understanding of current and changing patterns of mental health and well-being
Monitoring surveys provide a basis for program and policy evaluation of goals established by governmental and nongovernmental agencies

This report provides data regarding the physical and mental health of students in 2005 and changes since 1991
New topics in the 2005 OSDUS questionnaire include: fire setting behaviour, school suspension, family’s involvement with the Children’s Aid Society, and use of a telephone crisis help line
The 2005 survey also examined the overlap between substance use problems, mental health problems, and delinquent behaviour
In 2005, 7,726 students in grades 7 to 12, enrolled in the public or Catholic regular school systems, participated in OSDUS
This represents students from 42 school boards, 137 schools and 445 classes
Results are provided for two groups of students; those in grades 7 to 12, and those in grades 7, 9, and 11 only
The first group (grades 7 to 12) is used to assess current drug use and short-term trends (1999-2005)
The second group (grades 7, 9 and 11) is used to assess trends between 1991 and 2005
All data are based on self-reports derived from anonymous questionnaires administered in classrooms