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Appendix A: Ontario middle years profile of wellbeing source material

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Goal: Ontario children are active and well

Ontario children play and are physically healthy

Indicator: The percentage of children who engage in vigorous physical activity for at least 60 minutes at least five times a week

Desired direction of change: ▲ Up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 10- to 12-year- old respondents who reported they engage in vigorous physical activity for at least 60 minutes “at least five times a week on a regular basis.”

Source: The data is based on responses to the 2014 School Mental Health Survey led by Drs. Kathy Georgiades and Michael Boyle at the Offord Centre for Child Studies at McMaster University and funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The School Mental Health Survey (SMHS) is a cross-sectional study examining the associations between the school environment and student mental health and wellbeing.

Sample: A total of 11,347 Ontario students ages 10–12 received the survey.

Data: 2014: 66.4%

Indicator: The percentage of children who eat vegetables at least once a day

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who reported they eat vegetables “at least once per day or more.”

Source: The data is based on responses to the 2014 Healthy Behaviour in School Age Children in Canada survey. The survey is administered every four years by the Social Program Evaluation Group at Queen’s University on behalf of the World Health Organization and funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Sample: The sample includes 1,641 students ages 11–12 from 81 Ontario schools.

Data: 2014: 49%

Indicator: The percentage of children who play outdoors after school

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the percentage of parents who indicate that their 6- to 12-year-olds play outdoors between the time school ends and dinner on a typical day.

Source: The data is based on responses to the 2014–2015 CANPLAY Study, by the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute.

Sample: The sample includes 1,038 parental responses for children ages 6–12 residing in Ontario.

Data: 2015: 82%

Indicator: The percentage of children who sleep at least eight hours per night

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who reported they sleep at least eight hours per night on a regular basis.

Source: The data is based on responses to the 2014 Healthy Behaviour in School Age Children in Canada Survey. The survey is administered every four years by the Social Program Evaluation Group at Queen’s University on behalf of the World Health Organization and funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Sample: The sample includes 1,641 students ages 11–12 from 81 Ontario schools.

Data: 2014: 63%

Indicator: The percentage of families who have a primary care provider

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the percentage of Ontario families with at least one child 15 years or younger, who have a pediatrician, family doctor, nurse practitioner, or other regular health provider for their child.

Source: The data is based on the responses to the 2015 Health Care Experience Survey, conducted by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

Sample: The sample includes 2,414 Ontario families who had at least one child 15 years old or younger.

Data: 2015: 93.3%

Indicator: The percentage of children who rate their health as good or excellent

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who rate their health as “good” or “excellent.”

Sample: The sample includes 1,641 students ages 11–12 from 81 Ontario schools.

Data: 2014: 86%

Ontario children feel happy and mentally well

Indicator: The percentage of children who report their mental health as good, very good or excellent

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who report their mental health as “good,” “very good” or “excellent.”

Source: The data is based on the 2015 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey administered by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). The survey is conducted every two years and collected through anonymous, self-reported questionnaires.

Sample: The sample includes 1,504 Ontario students ages 11–12.

Data: 2015: 91.5%

Indicator: The percentage of children who think it is important to experience joy in life and that their life has meaning and purpose

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who think it is “important” and “very important” to experience joy in life and that their life has meaning and purpose.

Sample: The sample includes 1,641 students ages 11–12 from 81 Ontario schools.

Data: 2014: 79%

Indicator: The percentage of children who had a mental health or emotional problem and didn’t know where to turn

Desired direction of change: ▼ down

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who answered “yes” when asked if they had a mental health or emotional problem and didn’t know where to turn in the past year.

Sample: The sample includes 1,504 Ontario students ages 11–12.

Data: 2015: 18.7%

Indicator: The percentage of children who feel under stress, strain or pressure

Desired direction of change: ▼ down

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who reported feeling under stress, strain or pressure “a lot of the time” or “almost more than they could take.”

Sample: The sample includes 1,504 Ontario students ages 11–12.

Data: 2015: 14.4%

Indicator: The percentage of children who feel hopeless

Desired direction of change: ▼ down

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who reported feeling hopeless “sometimes,” “most of the time,” or “all of the time.”

Sample: The sample includes 1,504 Ontario students ages 11–12.

Data: 2015: 12.9%

Indicator: The percentage of children who had seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year

Desired direction of change: ▼ down

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who had seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year.

Sample: The sample includes 1,504 Ontario students ages 11–12.

Data: 2015: 7.1%

Ontario children learn and practice healthy habits and connect to the natural world

Indicator: The percentage of children who spend at least three hours a day on sedentary screen time

Desired direction of change: ▼ down

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who spent at least three hours per day watching TV/movies/playing video games/emailing in free time in the last seven days.

Sample: The sample includes 1,504 Ontario students ages 11–12.

Data: 2015: 43.3%

Indicator: The percentage of children who brush their teeth at least once a day

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who brush their teeth “at least once a day” and “more than once a day” on a regular basis.

Sample: The sample includes 1,641 students ages 11–12 from 81 Ontario schools.

Data: 2014: 92%

Indicator: The percentage of children who think it is important to feel connected to nature

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year old respondents who feel it is “important” or “very important” to feel connected to nature.

Sample: The sample includes 1,641 students ages 11–12 from 81 Ontario schools.

Data: 2014: 64%

Indicator: The percentage of children who have rules at home about talking to people they don’t know online or on a cellphone

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of Grades 4–6 students who have rules at home about talking to people they don’t know online/on a cellphone.

Source: The data is based on the responses to the 2013 MediaSmarts report, Young Canadians in a Wired World–Phase III Student Survey. This series of reports provides a snapshot of how children and youth are engaging with digital technologies and how it impacts their daily lives.

Sample: The sample includes 757 Ontario students in Grades 4–6.

Data: 2013: 53.8%

Goal: Ontario children have caring and connected families

Ontario children have at least one consistent, caring adult in their lives

Indicator: The percentage of children who have at least one parent/caregiver who usually knows where they are

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who report that at least one parent/caregiver usually knows where they are.

Sample: The sample includes 1,504 Ontario students ages 11–12.

Data: 2015: 96.7%

Indicator: The percentage of children who have a family member who could provide emotional help and support when needed

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who “agree” and “strongly agree” they have a family member who could provide emotional help and support when needed.

Sample: The sample includes 1,641 students ages 11–12 from 81 Ontario schools.

Data: 2014: 67%

Indicator: The percentage of children who talk about the activities they do in school with their parents/caregiver

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of English-speaking and French-speaking Ontario Grade 3 students who talk about the activities they do in school with their parents/guardian “every day” or “almost every day”.

Source: The data is based on 2015 Education Quality and Assessment Office (EQAO) scores for Grade 3 students, administered by the EQAO. The Assessment tests the reading, writing and math skills students are expected to have learned by the end of Grade 3. Students write this test during a two-week testing window in May and/or June each year.

Sample: The 2015–16 Ontario student questionnaires were administered to 128,727 Grade 3 students.

Data: 2016: 50%

Indicator: The percentage of children who feel their teachers care about them as a person

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who “agree” and “strongly agree” that their teachers care about them as a person.

Sample: The sample includes 1,641 students ages 11–12 from 81 Ontario schools.

Data: 2014: 77%

Ontario families are financially stable and secure

Indicator: The percentage of families living in deep poverty and struggling to afford housing

Desired direction of change: ▼ down

Definition: The indicator is defined as the percentage of households with at least one child under the age of 18 that have incomes below 40 per cent of the median household, after-tax income, and spend more than 40 per cent of their total income on housing.

Source: The data is based on responses to the 2014 Canadian Income Survey conducted by Statistics Canada. The Ontario Housing Measure tracks the percentage of households with children under 18 that have incomes below 40 per cent of the median household income (LIM 40) and spend more than 40 per cent of their income on housing.

Sample: The 2014 Canadian Income Survey sample size is approximately 8,400 Canadian households.

Data: 2014: 6.3%

Indicator: The percentage of children living in low income households (LIM 50)

Desired direction of change: ▼ down

Definition: The indicator is defined as the percentage of households with at least one child under the age of 18 living “in low income” as defined using Ontario’s “fixed” LIM 50. LIM 50 is the number and percentage of people living in a household with an after-tax income less than 50 per cent of the median adjusted household income measured in 2008 and adjusted for inflation for 2009–14. The after-tax threshold varies according to household size.

Source: The data is based on responses to the 2014 Canadian Income Survey conducted by Statistics Canada, which replaced the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics in 2011. The most recent data is from 2014, released in July 2016.

Sample: The 2014 Canadian Income Survey sample size is approximately 8,400 Canadian households.

Data: 2014: 14%

Indicator: The percentage of Ontario families who experience food insecurity

Desired direction of change: ▼ down

Definition: The indicator is defined as the percentage of families with children from birth to age 17 who experience food insecurity, as defined by a household’s ability to afford the food it needed over the past 12 months.

Source: This data is based on the responses to the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), conducted by Statistics Canada. The CCHS is conducted every year.

Sample: This sample includes Ontario households with children from birth to age 17. Excluded from the CCHS are residents of First Nations reserves, health care institutions, some remote areas and full-time members of the Canadian Forces.

Data: 2012: 10%

Ontario families are supported to thrive and are active in their children’s lives

Indicator: The percentage of children who eat dinner with a parent on a regular basis

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who eat dinner with a parent five days or more a week on a regular basis.

Sample: The sample includes 1,641 students ages 11–12 from 81 Ontario schools.

Data: 2014: 74%

Indicator: The percentage of teachers who shared suggestions with parents/caregivers to support learning at home

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the percentage of teachers who shared suggestions with parents at least two to three times in the last year to support learning at home.

Sample: The sample includes 6,833 Ontario teachers.

Data: 2016: 89.2%

Indicator: The percentage of teachers who shared information with parents/caregivers on their child's progress

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the percentage of teachers who shared information with parents/caregivers at least two to three times in the last year on their child's progress.

Sample: The sample includes 6,833 Ontario teachers.

Data: 2016: 93.5%

Goal: Ontario children have positive relationships

Ontario children form and maintain healthy, close relationships

Indicator: The percentage of children who have at least one friend they can trust and rely on

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 10- to 12-year-old respondents who reported they have at least one friend they can trust and rely on “often or very true”.

Source: The data is based on responses to the 2014 School Mental Health Survey led by Drs. Kathy Georgiades and Michael Boyle at the Offord Centre for Child Studies at McMaster University and funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The SMHS is a cross-sectional study examining the associations between the school environment and student mental health and wellbeing.

Sample: A total of 11,347 Ontario students ages 10–12 received the survey.

Data: 2014: 68.1%

Indicator: The percentage of children who can talk through disputes with a friend

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 10- to 12-year-old respondents who “agree” and “strongly agree” that if they get angry with a friend, they can talk about it and make things better.

Source: The data is based on responses to the 2014 School Mental Health Survey led by Drs. Kathy Georgiades and Michael Boyle at the Offord Centre for Child Studies at McMaster University and funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The SMHS is a cross-sectional study examining the associations between the school environment and student mental health and wellbeing.

Sample: A total of 11,347 Ontario students ages 10–12 received the survey.

Data: 2014: 78.8%

Ontario children respect others and value diversity, equity and inclusion

Indicator: The percentage of children who bully others

Desired direction of change: ▼ down

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who report that they had bullied others “at least two to three times per month”, “once a week” and “several times per week”.

Sample: The sample includes 1,641 students ages 11–12 from 81 Ontario schools.

Data: 2014: 6%

Indicator: The percentage of children who have been bullied

Desired direction of change: ▼ down

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who have been bullied “at least two to three times per month”, “once a week” or “several times per week”.

Sample: The sample includes 1,641 students ages 11–12 from 81 Ontario schools.

Data: 2014: 30%

Indicator: The percentage of children who feel students treat each other with respect

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 10- to 12-year-old respondents who “agree” and “agree a lot” that students treat each other with respect at school.

Source: The data is based on responses to the 2014 School Mental Health Survey led by Drs. Kathy Georgiades and Michael Boyle at the Offord Centre for Child Studies at McMaster University and funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The SMHS is a cross-sectional study examining the associations between the school environment and student mental health and wellbeing.

Sample: A total of 11,347 Ontario students ages 10–12 received the survey.

Data: 2014: 68%

Indicator: The percentage of children who think it is important to be kind and forgiving of others

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who think it is “important” or “very important” to be kind and forgiving of others.

Sample: The sample includes 1,641 students ages 11–12 from 81 Ontario schools.

Data: 2014: 80%

Ontario children feel safe at home, at school, online and in their communities

Indicator: The percentage of children who feel safe at school

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who “strongly agree” they feel safe at school.

Sample: The sample includes 1,504 Ontario students ages 11–12.

Data: 2015: 56.1%

Indicator: The percentage of children who feel their community is safe for children to play outside during the day

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who “agree” or “strongly agree” their community is safe for children to play outside during the day.

Sample: The sample includes 1,641 students ages 11–12 from 81 Ontario schools.

Data: 2014: 76%

Indicator: The percentage of children who feel they can trust people in their community

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who “agree” or “strongly agree” they can trust people in their community.

Sample: The sample includes 1,641 students ages 11–12 from 81 Ontario schools.

Data: 2014: 60%

Indicator: The percentage of children who feel confident they have the skill needed to protect themselves online

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of Grades 4-6 students who “agree” they have the skill needed to protect themselves online.

Sample: The sample includes 757 Ontario students in Grades 4–6.

Data: 2013: 83.9%

Goal: Ontario children engage in learning

Ontario children are curious and love to learn

Indicator: The percentage of children who really like school

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of Grade 4 students who “agree a lot” that they like school.

Source: The data is based on responses to the 2015 Trends in International Math and Science Survey (TIMMS). TIMMS is administered every four years to Grade 4 and Grade 8 students. In 2015, data was collected from 57 jurisdictions. The response rates associated with the indicators are 77 per cent for the home questionnaire. Response rates on individual indicators ranged from 96 per cent and 99 per cent for the student questionnaire.

Sample: Ontario student data is derived from a random stratified sample of approximately 4,500 Grade 4 students.

Data: 2015: 47%

Indicator: The percentage of children who like to read

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of English-speaking and French-speaking Ontario students who like to read “most of the time.”

Sample: The 2015–16 student questionnaires were administered to 128,727 Grade 3 Ontario students.

Data: 2016: 47.1%

Indicator: The percentage of children who enjoy mathematics

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of English-speaking and French-speaking Ontario students who enjoy mathematics “most of the time.”

Sample: The 2015–16 student questionnaires were administered to 128,727 Grade 3 Ontario students.

Data: 2016: 59.5%

Indicator: The percentage of children who feel they belong at their school

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 10- to 12-year-old respondents who “agree” or “strongly agree” they belong at their school.

Source: The data is based on responses to the 2014 School Mental Health Survey led by Drs. Kathy Georgiades and Michael Boyle at the Offord Centre for Child Studies at McMaster University and funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The SMHS is a cross-sectional study examining the associations between the school environment and student mental health and wellbeing.

Sample: A total of 11,347 Ontario students ages 10–12 received the survey.

Data: 2014: 68%

Ontario children have relevant learning experiences that address their diverse interests, strengths, needs and abilities

Indicator: The percentage of children who feel they can get extra help at school when they need it

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who “agree” or “strongly agree” that when they need extra help at school, they can get it.

Sample: The sample includes 1,641 students ages 11–12 from 81 Ontario schools.

Data: 2014: 80%

Indicator: The percentage of children who feel their teacher accepts them as they are

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who “agree” or “strongly agree” their teacher accepts them as they are.

Sample: The sample includes 1,641 students ages 11–12 from 81 Ontario schools.

Data: 2014: 83%

Indicator: The percentage of children who regularly take part in a school club or group

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 10- to 12-year-old respondents who regularly take part in a school club or group ‘once a week”, “a few times a week” or most days”.

Source: The data is based on responses to the 2014 School Mental Health Survey led by Drs. Kathy Georgiades and Michael Boyle at the Offord Centre for Child Studies at McMaster University and funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The SMHS is a cross-sectional study examining the associations between the school environment and student mental health and wellbeing.

Sample: A total of 11,347 Ontario students ages 10–12 received the survey.

Data: 2014: 28.7%

Ontario children gain the knowledge and skills they need

Indicator: The percentage of Grade 3 students who are at or above the provincial math standard

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of English-speaking and French-speaking Ontario Grade 3 students meeting the provincial standard in applied math. Results are scored on a four-point scale, with a score of three or above being defined as meeting the provincial standard.

Sample: The 2015–16 EQAO Math Assessment was administered to 133,830 Grade 3 students.

Data: 2016: 64%

Indicator: The percentage of Grade 3 students who are at or above the provincial reading standard

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of English-speaking and French-speaking Ontario Grade 3 students meeting the provincial standard in reading. Results are scored on a four-point scale, with a score of three or above being defined as meeting the provincial standard.

Sample: The 2015–16 EQAO Reading Assessment was administered to 127,191 Grade 3 students.

Data: 2016: 72.6%

Indicator: The percentage of Grade 3 students who are at or above the provincial writing standard

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of English-speaking and French-speaking Ontario Grade 3 students meeting the provincial standard in writing. Results are scored on a four-point scale, with a score of three or above being defined as meeting the provincial standard.

Sample: The 2015–16 EQAO Writing Assessment was administered to 127,213 Grade 3 students.

Data: 2016: 74.6%

Indicator: The percentage of teachers that implement a social and emotional learning program

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the percentage of teachers that implement a social and emotional learning program.

Source: The data is based on responses to the 2014 School Mental Health Survey led by Drs. Kathy Georgiades and Michael Boyle at the Offord Centre for Child Studies at McMaster University and funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The SMHS is a cross-sectional study examining the associations between the school environment and student mental health and wellbeing.

Sample: A total of 1,326 Ontario Grade 1 to Grade 6 teachers completed the teacher survey.

Data: 2014: 27.5%

Indicator: The percentage of children who enter Grade 1 ready to learn

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the percentage of students who meet the development targets for Grade 1 school readiness.

Source: Data is based on responses to the 2015 Early Development Instrument (EDI). The questionnaire is completed by kindergarten teachers to measure a child’s ability to meet age-appropriate developmental expectations in five general domains.

Sample: The sample includes 135,936 Ontario Kindergarten student assessments, conducted by their teachers.

Data: 2015: 70.6%

Goal: Ontario children feel valued

Ontario children are discovering who they are and who they want to be

Indicator: The percentage of children who say they have confidence in themselves

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who “agree” or “strongly agree” they had confidence in themselves.

Sample: The sample includes 1,641 students ages 11–12 from 81 Ontario schools.

Data: 2014: 69%

Indicator: The percentage of children who participate in art, music or drama activities outside of school

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: This indicator is defined as the proportion of English-speaking and French-speaking Ontario students who participate in art, music or drama activities (outside of school) “at least once a week”.

Sample: The 2015–16 Ontario student questionnaires were administered to 128,727 Grade 3 students.

Data: 2016: 45.3%

Indicator: The percentage of children who are involved in community groups

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who are involved in community groups.

Sample: The sample includes 1,641 students ages 11–12 from 81 Ontario schools.

Data: 2014: 10%

Ontario children are proud of their cultures and identities and live free from discrimination

Indicator: The percentage of children who are treated badly or differently at school because of their race, ethnicity, colour of skin

Desired direction of change: ▼ down

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 10- to 12-year-old respondents who indicated they are treated badly or differently at school because of their race, ethnicity, colour of skin over a six-month period “once or a few times”, “once or twice a month”, “once or twice a week”, or “almost every day”.

Source: The data is based on responses to the 2014 School Mental Health Survey led by Drs. Kathy Georgiades and Michael Boyle at the Offord Centre for Child Studies at McMaster University and funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The SMHS is a cross-sectional study examining the associations between the school environment and student mental health and wellbeing.

Sample: A total of 11,347 Ontario students ages 10–12 received the survey.

Data: 2014: 14.3%

Indicator: The percentage of children who are treated badly or differently because of their gender identity or sexual orientation

Desired direction of change: ▼ down

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 10- to 12-year-old respondents who indicated they are treated badly or differently because of their gender identity or sexual orientation over a six-month period “once or a few times”, once or twice a month”, “once or twice a week”, or “almost every day”.

Source: The data is based on responses to the 2014 School Mental Health Survey led by Drs. Kathy Georgiades and Michael Boyle at the Offord Centre for Child Studies at McMaster University and funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The SMHS is a cross-sectional study examining the associations between the school environment and student mental health and wellbeing.

Sample: A total of 11,347 Ontario students ages 10–12 received the survey.

Data: 2014: 14.6%

Indicator: The percentage of children who feel other children accept them as they are

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who “agree” or “strongly agree” other children accept them as they are.

Sample: The sample includes 1,641 students ages 11–12 from 81 Ontario schools.

Data: 2014: 71%

Ontario children can express what matters to them

Indicator: The percentage of children who have someone in their family who listens to them when they speak

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who “agree” or “strongly agree” they have someone in their family who listens to them when they speak.

Sample: The sample includes 1,641 students ages 11–12 from 81 Ontario schools.

Data: 2014: 72%

Indicator: The percentage of children who feel they are encouraged to express their own view in their class(es)

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who “agree” or “strongly agree” they are encouraged to express their own view in their class(es).

Sample: The sample includes 1,641 students ages 11–12 from 81 Ontario schools.

Data: 2014: 70%

Goal: Ontario communities support children and families

Ontario families are supported, engaged and inform the decisions that affect them

Indicator: The percentage of children who are involved in volunteer work

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who are involved in volunteer work.

Sample: The sample includes 1,641 students ages 11–12 from 81 Ontario schools.

Data: 2014: 25%

Indicator: The percentage of parents/caregivers who highly agree their child’s school does a good job including them in their child’s education

Desired direction of change:▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of parents/caregivers of Grade 4 students who “agree a lot” that their child’s school does a good job including them in their child’s education

Sample: Ontario student data is derived from a random stratified sample of approximately 4,500 Grade 4 students.

Data: 2014: 56%

Ontario families know about and easily access high quality resources in their communities

Indicator: The percentage of parents who indicate that their children have access to after-school care

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of parents who indicated that their children have access to a supervised program during the after-school period.

Source: The data is based on responses to the 2014–2015 CANPLAY Study, by the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute.

Sample: The sample includes 762 parental responses for children and youth ages 6–12 residing in Ontario.

Data: 2015: 52%

Indicator: The percentage of parents who feel public facilities and programs for sports/recreation meet their child's needs

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of parents who indicate that available public facilities and programs to do physical activities or sports meet their child’s need “quite or very” well.

Source: The data is based on a subset of responses to the 2014–2015 Physical Activity Monitor, conducted by the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute.

Sample: The sample includes 790 parental responses for children and youth ages 6–12 residing in Ontario.

Data: 2015: 66%

Indicator: The percentage of children who feel that there are good places to spend their free time (e.g., recreation centres, parks, shopping centres)

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of 11- to 12-year-old respondents who “agree” or “strongly agree” that there are good places to spend their free time such as recreation centres, parks, shopping centres.

Sample: The sample includes 1,641 students ages 11–12 from 81 Ontario schools.

Data: 2014: 74%

Indicator: The percentage of parents who are satisfied with the accessibility of opportunities to be active in their community

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the proportion of parents who are “quite or very” satisfied with the accessibility of opportunities to be active in their community, such as cost and location.

Source: The data is based on responses to the 2014–2015 CANPLAY Study, by the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute.

Sample: The sample includes 895 parental responses for children and youth ages 6–12 residing in Ontario.

Data: 2015: 71%

Ontario service providers, governments and communities foster belonging and wellbeing of children and families

Indicator: The percentage of families who are satisfied with health care in their community

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the percentage of Ontario families with at least one child 15 years or younger who are satisfied with health care in their community.

Source: The data is based on the responses to the 2015 Health Care Experience Survey, conducted by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

Sample: The sample includes 2,414 Ontario survey respondents.

Data: 2015: 87.9%

Indicator: The percentage of children who would speak to a school social worker, counsellor, psychologist, nurse or other school staff if they needed help for concerns regarding their mental health

Desired direction of change: ▲ up

Definition: The indicator is defined as the percentage of children who answered “yes” that they would speak to a school social worker, counsellor, psychologist, nurse or other school staff if they needed help for concerns regarding their mental health.

Source: The data is based on responses to the 2014 School Mental Health Survey led by Drs. Kathy Georgiades and Michael Boyle at the Offord Centre for Child Studies at McMaster University and funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The SMHS is a cross-sectional study examining the associations between the school environment and student mental health and well-being.

Sample: A total of 11,347 Ontario students ages 10–12 received the survey.

Data: 2014: 46.4%

Updated: February 02, 2024

Published: July 15, 2021