Startling numbers released today by the New Brunswick Health Council (NBHC) show the province’s youth are not getting enough sleep and that could increase their risk of depression, obesity and substance abuse.
“Fewer than four New Brunswick youth in 10 get eight or more hours of sleep per night,” said Stéphane Robichaud, the CEO of the NBHC.
He said national guidelines suggest children from five to 13 years old should have nine to 11 hours of sleep, and youth 14 to 17 should sleep eight to 10 hours per night.
The latest findings from the NBHC’s five-year review of child and youth health in New Brunswick shows that youth who fail to get enough rest are more likely to be overweight, take up smoking and engage in risky behaviour. It also shows the number of youth failing to get enough rest has been steadily climbing since 2009.
Robichaud said that seems to coincide with the spike in cell phone use among teens.
“It appears anecdotally that those cell phones are a culprit and that kids tend to text during the night and communications can go on into night hours,” Robichaud said.
Ethan Brown, 17, of Moncton said he spends hours on his cell phone even after he’s gotten into bed for the night.
“I only fall asleep at 1 a.m. mainly because I am on my electronics,’ Brown said.
Robichaud encourages parents to set guidelines for sleep.
“Encouraging adequate sleep for children and youth is something everyone can do to help,” he said.
Brown said his parents try to limit his cell phone use at night.
“They try to take my electronics they want it shut down at 10 o’clock,” said Brown, but he adds he does not always listen to their advice.
The New Brunswick Health Council also looked at a number of other issues related to teens, from mental health to physical activity and alcohol, drug and tobacco consumption.
While the use of tobacco among youth has declined from 27 to 23 percent over the last eight years, 28 per cent of kids between the ages of 12 and 19 report having tried alternative smoking products like e-cigarettes.
Although youth who achieve 60 minutes of physical activity daily is up slightly from 57 per cent in 2009 to 60 percent in 2015, teens are also getting heavier, with 28 percent of students reported as overweight or obese. These numbers are up from 23 per cent in 2009.
The report, however, also showed bullying is on the decline with the number of students who reported having been bullied down from 65 per cent in 2009 to 52 in 2016.
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