Québec Health Survey of High School Students (QHSHSS)

The Institut de la statistique du Québec (ISQ) conducts the Health Survey of High School Students (QHSHSS). It targeted Secondary I to V students registered in the youth sector in French- and English-language Québec public and private schools in the fall of 2010. It was conducted again in 2016-2017. The survey is regional in scope (by health region [HR]) and the HRs that increased the size of the basic sample were able to analyze their data based on the local service networks (LSNs) or by regional county municipality (RCM), local community service centre (CLSC) and school board (SB). The survey’s contents are divided into two key themes, i.e. physical health and lifestyle habits and mental and psychosocial health. More specifically, it covers perception of health status, respiratory health, dietary habits, sexual behaviour, weight and body image, oral health1 , cigarette smoking, alcohol use, drug use, work experience, physical leisure activity and transportation, mental health (including psychological distress), behavioural adequacy, school environment, family environment, characteristics of the peer group, sociodemographic conditions and sociodemographic characteristics (ISQ, 2015b).

Table 1 presents additional details on the target population, the geographical coverage and the number of respondents. Table 3 indicates the standardized instruments used in the QHSHSS for certain mental health indicators. The information sheet (Study 8) for this survey also presents certain information.

Table 3 - QHSHSS : standardized instruments used for certain mental health indicators and availability at the Infocentre
Indicator Instrument validated Year available Available from the Infocentre?*

Psychological distress

Indice de détresse psychologique de Santé Québec (IDPSQ-14)

2010‑2011, 2016‑2017

Yes

Positive mental health

Adolescent Mental Health Continuum – Short Form

2016‑2017

Yes

Medical diagnosis: depression, anxiety

N/A

2010‑2011; 2016‑2017

Yes

Medication use during the last two weeks:

  • for depression or anxiety;
  • to calm down or better concentrate.

N/A

2010‑2011; 2016‑2017

Yes

Problematic alcohol and drug use and its adverse impacts

Detection of Alcohol and Drug Problems in Adolescents (DEP-ADO)

2010‑2011; 2016‑2017

Yes

Alcohol use

N/A

2010‑2011; 2016‑2017

Yes

*    Infocentre de santé publique ( section 4.1).
N/A: not available.

  1. Oral health is presented only in the first cycle of the survey i.e. in 2010-2011.