Current levels of violence, harassment should classify schools as hazardous workplaces

 Violence and harassment in Canadian schools have reached such crisis levels that these public institutions should be categorized as hazardous workplaces, says a national report led by researchers at the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).

The report – Canadian Schools: A Hazardous Workplace – surveyed 4,000 education workers and summarized the findings from a national report in which both direct and indirect support staff reported on the frequency and impact of incidents of harassment and violence during the 2022–2023 school year.

The reported violence and harassment were overwhelmingly student-initiated, particularly toward direct student support staff and indirect workers. High rates of violence and harassment were also seen from parents, colleagues, and administrators.

“Education workers are being routinely exposed to levels of violence and psychological harm that equal those experienced by first responders,” said lead author Dr. Darcy Santor, professor of psychology at uOttawa. “Yet, unlike first responders, they often lack adequate protections, training, and access to mental health supports.”

Dr. Santor’s key findings include:

• 78% of education sector workers experienced at least one act, attempt or threat of physical violence.
• 84% experienced some 30 incidents of harassment per year on average.
• 26% reported PTSD-like symptoms
• Nearly 80% said workplace violence harmed their mental health.

One respondent said: “A colleague had her head struck against the wall by a student. She has experienced a traumatic brain injury. The impact it has had on me is a general, constant sense of fear for myself and others. I am always thinking about how I approach students, and I am always in fight or flight mode.”

The report found the workplace environment has gotten to a point where over 50 percent of respondents said they are ready to leave the profession if they could find comparable employment. Many said the stress followed them home, affecting their families, sleep, and overall quality of life, while others cited their experiences with violence and harassment as reasons for leaving the profession.

The report also documents widespread under-reporting of incidents and a lack of effective institutional responses, with fewer than one in five workers indicating that safety plans were consistently implemented following violent incidents.

The research team outlined recommendations, including improving and expanding how hazards are identified, more consistent and effective safety planning and reporting, and enhanced mental health supports.

The research was conducted by researchers in the School of Psychology and the Department of Criminology at the University of Ottawa and was supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. The report – Canadian Schools: A Hazardous Workplace is available here.

Adolescent cannabis use linked to doubling risk of psychotic and bipolar disorders

 Adolescents who use cannabis could face a significantly higher risk of developing serious psychiatric disorders by young adulthood, according to a large new study published today in JAMA Health Forum. The longitudinal study followed 463,396 adolescents ages 13 to 17 through age 26 and found that past-year cannabis use during adolescence was associated with a significantly higher risk of incident psychotic (doubled), bipolar (doubled), depressive and anxiety disorders. The study was conducted by researchers from Kaiser Permanente, the Public Health Institute’s Getting it Right from the Start, the University of California, San Francisco and the University of Southern California, and was funded by a grant from NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA0531920).

The study analyzed electronic health record data from routine pediatric visits between 2016 and 2023. Cannabis use preceded psychiatric diagnoses by an average of 1.7 to 2.3 years. The study’s longitudinal design strengthens evidence that adolescent cannabis exposure is a potential risk factor for developing mental illness.

“As cannabis becomes more potent and aggressively marketed, this study indicates that adolescent cannabis use is associated with double the risk of incident psychotic and bipolar disorders, two of the most serious mental health conditions,” said Lynn Silver, M.D., program director of the Getting it Right from the Start, a program of the Public Health Institute, and a study co-author. “The evidence increasingly points to the need for an urgent public health response — one that reduces product potency, prioritizes prevention, limits youth exposure and marketing and treats adolescent cannabis use as a serious health issue, not a benign behavior.”

Cannabis is the most used illicit drug among U.S. adolescents. The Monitoring the Future study shows use rising with grade level — from about 8% in 8th grade to 26% in 12th grade — and according to the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 10% of all U.S. teens aged 12 to 17 report past-year use. At the same time, average THC levels in California cannabis flower now exceed 20%, far higher than in previous decades, and concentrates can exceed 95% THC.

Unlike many prior studies, the research examined any self-reported past-year cannabis use, with universal screening of teens during standard pediatric care, rather than focusing only on heavy use or cannabis use disorder.

“Even after accounting for prior mental health conditions and other substance use, adolescents who reported cannabis use had a substantially higher risk of developing psychiatric disorders — particularly psychotic and bipolar disorders,” said Kelly Young-Wolff, Ph.D., lead author of the study and senior research scientist at the Kaiser Permanente Division of Research. “This study adds to the growing body of evidence that cannabis use during adolescence could have potentially detrimental, long-term health effects. It’s imperative that parents and their children have accurate, trusted, and evidence-based information about the risks of adolescent cannabis use.”  

 The study also found that cannabis use was more common among adolescents enrolled in Medicaid and those living in more socioeconomically deprived neighborhoods, raising concerns that expanding cannabis commercialization could exacerbate existing mental health disparities.

The Public Health Institute is an independent nonprofit organization that advances wellbeing and health equity with communities around the world. PHI develops research, leadership and partnerships to build strong public health policy, programs, systems and practices. For more information, visit www.phi.org.

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Journal

JAMA Health Forum

DOI

10.1001/jamahealthforum.2025.6839 

How to boost participation in physical activity among autistic youth

‘Physical activity programs can be created and maintained based on what autistic children and teenagers enjoy and do well instead of focusing on what they cannot do’

Researchers investigating how to increase participation in physical activity by autistic children and teens say key strategies include creating predictable routines, involving family members and ensuring safe and sensory-friendly spaces.

Those were among 95 “facilitators” yielded by their review of previously published research on the subject. Autistic youth are less physically active than their peers, who are already not physically active enough, the researchers said, noting that physical activity could be beneficial to their physical, social and emotional health.

In their work, the researchers took a strengths-based approach rather than focusing on a deficits-based one.

“This perspective reframes physical activity not as a challenge for autistic children and teenagers to overcome but as an opportunity for them to build confidence, enjoyment and social connection,” said Mathieu Michaud, a PhD student in kinesiology and co-author of the paper.

“This research has practical implications for families, educators, coaches and community organizations. For example, physical activity programs can be created and maintained based on what autistic children and teenagers enjoy and do well instead of focusing on what they cannot do,” Michaud said.

Mapped all available research

The work was conducted by the McGill Choices in Health, Action, Motivation, Pedagogy and Skills (CHAMPS) Physical Activity Lab, directed by professor William James Harvey, also a co-author of the paper.

The researchers systematically mapped all available research previously published on this topic using six major databases, screening nearly 20,000 entries and ultimately analyzing 43 studies that matched the inclusion criteria.

They then classified the 95 facilitators found during the review into six categories (based on a pre-established health promotion framework): individual, family, social, physical environment, institutions, as well as community and public policy.

Predictable routines, safe spaces

At the individual level, the review highlights how autistic children are more likely to participate in physical activity if they feel the movements required in the activity fit their skill set, or if it’s an activity they know well and takes the form of a game.

Other examples of positive factors, or facilitators, include supportive peers or good relationships with coaches at the social level, and after-school physical activity opportunities at the institutional level.

The team is already working on applying their research results in real-world settings by developing an intervention in which autistic teenagers select which factors matter most to them, information that then informs what activities are offered.

About the study

Facilitating Physical Activity Participation Among Autistic Children and Youth: A Scoping Review, by Mathieu Michaud and William J. Harvey, was published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

College students who spend hours on social media are more likely to be lonely

 More than half of college students are lonely – and those who use social media the most are particularly likely to feel isolated, a study of tens of thousands of 18 to 24-year-olds in the US shows.

Just 16 hours a week, or two or so hours a day, on social media was linked with higher odds of loneliness, a new peer-reviewed paper in the Journal of American College Health reports.

The study’s authors said that academic institutions should educate students on the effects of social media use and encourage them to set time limits.

Researcher Dr. Madelyn Hill, now an assistant professor at Ohio University, who led the study while completing her doctoral work in University of Cincinnati’s School of Human Services in spring 2025, explains: “We know that people who are lonely are more likely to become depressed. We also know that those who are lonely are more likely to die early.

“Young adulthood is a time of many changes, from leaving home for the first time, to starting college and forming new friendships, and it is vital that colleges and universities do all they can to help their students forge connections with others.”

Previous studies have found that Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat are young adults’ favourite social media sites.

Other work shows that excessive social media use can leave less time for face-to-face socialising. However, research on whether this leads to loneliness has produced mixed results.

To address this, Dr. Hill and colleagues analysed data 64,988 18 to 24-year-olds from more than 120 colleges who took part national survey.

Loneliness was measured by asking them how often they felt left out, lacked companionship or felt isolated.

The study found that:

• 54% of the students were lonely. This is in line with other recent research from the US.
• Female and Black students particularly to say they were lonely.
• Students doing hybrid courses were less lonely than those studying face to face, perhaps because they were still able to see their old friends.
• Members of fraternities and sororities were among the least likely to be lonely, maybe owing to more opportunities to attend parties and other gatherings.
• Those who lived at home were lonelier than those with accommodation on campus.

The students were also asked how many hours they spent on social media in a typical week.

About 13% of them used social media excessively i.e. for at least 16 hours a week and, the more they used it, the higher their odds of feeling lonely.

• Those who used it for 16 to 20 hours a week were 19% more likely to say they were lonely than those who didn’t use it at all.
• 21 to 25 and 26 to 30 hours a week were linked with a 23% and 34% higher likelihood of loneliness, respectively.
• The heaviest social media users (at least 30 hours a week) were 38% more likely to report being lonely.

The study’s authors acknowledge that they can’t be sure if excessive social media use leads to loneliness or vice versa.  They suspect it is a bit of both.  Some students who use social media may become lonely because they have less time to see friends in person. Meanwhile, some of those who are lonely may find valuable support online.

The authors also note that some of the students may have underestimated how long they spend online.

Nevertheless, they believe that tackling excessive social media use could lower levels of loneliness.

Senior author of the paper, Dr. Ashley L Merianos, of the University of Cincinnati, highlights the importance of these findings: “These results underscore how widespread loneliness is among college students and highlight that excessive social media use may be replacing the meaningful interactions that protect their mental health. A key public health strategy to combat this loneliness epidemic is to strengthen social connections and help students build supportive relationships with their peers offline.”

Dr. Hill, whose research specialism is to focus on understanding and improving health behaviours such as social media use among children and young adults, concludes: “Academic institutions should educate college students about the potential negative effects of excessive social media use, including loneliness.

“Helping students understand how excessive social media use can affect their well-being may lead to some of them assessing how much time they spend on it.  They may then cut back on it or even set time limits for themselves.

“Institutions should also work to encourage students to attend social events on campus.”

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Journal

Journal of American College Health

DOI

10.1080/07448481.2025.2573108 

National poll finds gaps in community preparedness for teen cardiac emergencies

 

Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, including teens, and a new national poll suggests many schools and families may not be fully prepared to respond.

Only about half of parents say they are aware that their teen’s school has an automated external defibrillator, or AED, on site. Even fewer know where it is located or feel confident that school staff could use it in an emergency, according to the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health.

“Sudden cardiac arrest in young people is rare, but when it happens, the response has to be immediate,” said Sarah Clark, M.P.H., co-director of the Mott Poll. “Every second matters, and CPR and AED use are critical to survival.”

The nationally representative poll is based on responses from nearly 1,000 parents with at least one child ages 13 to 17, surveyed in August 2025.

Parents aware of the risk, but action lags

Nearly half of parents say they have heard of a child or teen experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, but preparedness seems to lag behind concern.

While more than a third of parents believe all teens should be evaluated for heart disease, only about one in seven say their teen has ever had a heart evaluation, most often during a sports physical.

“Having the pediatrician listen to the teen’s heart and review family history are important first steps,” Clark said. “But some heart conditions in teens cannot be detected with a stethoscope alone. Teens need to report any symptoms that might indicate a possible heart problem.”

For teens who experience heart palpitations, dizziness or other warning signs, electrocardiograms, commonly called EKGs, can identify certain hidden heart conditions and are recommended by some medical organizations.

While estimates vary, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that roughly 2,000 young people under age 25 in the United States die each year from sudden cardiac arrest.

AEDs present in schools, but often hard to find

Among parents who say their teen’s school has an AED, only about two in five know where it is located and just over a third feel sure that school staff are trained and ready to use it.

Among parents who don’t know whether their teen’s school has an AED, most say they believe it should.

“Having an AED in a building is not enough,” Clark said. “People need to know where it is and feel confident using it.”

Parents and teens want training and are willing to act

The poll found strong support for CPR and AED training. About four in 10 parents report being trained to use an AED, and nearly nine in 10 say they would be willing to receive free AED training.

Once trained, almost all parents say they would use an AED in an emergency if needed.

Similarly, nearly two-thirds of parents report being CPR certified, and most say they would be willing to receive free CPR training and perform CPR in an emergency if trained.

Fewer teens, however, are receiving training. Only about one in five parents say their teen has CPR training, and just one in 15 say their teen has been trained to use an AED.

Most parents say they would want their teen to provide CPR or use an AED in an emergency. But they also report concerns about teens responding to cardiac emergencies, including fear of emotional distress if the person does not survive, feeling overwhelmed in the moment, legal concerns or worry about doing something wrong.

“Teens can save lives,” Clark said. “With the right training and support, they can act quickly instead of freezing and greatly improve someone’s chances for survival.”

She added that the findings highlight the importance of programs such as Project ADAM, which works to prevent sudden cardiac death in schools and communities by helping them become 'heart safe." The program supports schools in developing emergency response plans, training staff and ensuring access to AEDs.

However, most parents support a strategy that goes beyond training of school staff.

“Sudden cardiac arrest can happen any time, including when school staff aren’t onsite,” Clark said.  “Parents overwhelmingly support broader access to training so that students and parents are prepared to save lives when the unexpected happens.”

Addictive digital habits in early adolescence linked to mental health struggles

 New research following US adolescents ages 11–12 shows that problematic use of mobile phones, social media, and video games was associated with higher risks of mental health problems, sleep disturbance, and suicidal behaviors one year later. The study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, published by Elsevier, reveals that the links between problematic screen use and mental health are stronger than those previously reported for overall screen time and highlights the risks of addictive use.

Screen use increases rapidly during early adolescence, which is also a critical window when mental health challenges, sleep problems, and substance use often begin to emerge. An estimated 49.5% of adolescents in the US have experienced mental illness.

While much of the prior research has focused on overall screen time or older adolescents, this research focused on problematic, addiction-like patterns of screen use in early adolescence and whether they are associated with later adverse health outcomes.

Lead investigator Jason M. Nagata, MD, Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, explains, “Problematic screen use is when kids can’t control their time online, even if they try, and it starts to cause stress, conflicts, or problems at school or home. It can also lead to withdrawal-like feelings, needing more time online to feel satisfied, and repeated relapses, much like other addictive behaviors.”

The researchers analyzed data from over 8,000 participants in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, the largest long-term study of brain development and child health in the US, following youth from ages 11–12 to one year later.

The study found that problematic mobile phone and social media use were prospectively associated with higher depressive, somatic, attention/deficit, oppositional defiant, and conduct problems scores; suicidal behaviors; sleep disturbance; and substance initiation.

Problematic video game use was associated with higher depressive, attention/deficit, and oppositional defiant scores; suicidal behaviors; and sleep disturbance.

This study addresses key evidence gaps highlighted by the US Surgeon General in a 2023 Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health by using a prospective design, focusing on early adolescents, and examining problematic screen use rather than screen time alone.

Responding to ongoing concerns about youth mental health and the rapid rise of digital media use at younger ages, this study’s findings are poised to shape future health policy and clinical practice. The results underpin the necessity of interventions specifically tailored to early adolescents, as this is a critical period during which psychological vulnerabilities often first manifest.

Dr. Nagata points out, “Not all screen time is harmful. The real risk comes when use becomes addictive or problematic, when kids can’t stop, feel stressed if they don’t use it, or it starts to disrupt sleep, mood, or daily life.”

“Our findings suggest that digital platforms and families alike should consider ways to reduce addictive features of apps and social media, since these patterns of use are modifiable and can affect adolescent mental health,” he concludes.

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Journal

American Journal of Preventive Medicine

DOI

10.1016/j.amepre.2025.108248 

Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants

 

The Institute of Education Sciences has released a new evaluation report, Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants: What Districts are Prioritizing with the New Flexibilities under ESSA’s Title IV-A Program. The report examines how a nationally representative set of districts reported spending their ESSA Title IV-A funds in the 2021–22 school year and how they perceived the mix of new flexibilities and constraints introduced under ESSA.   To access the report, please visit: https://ies.ed.gov/use-work/resource-library/report/evaluation-report/student-support-and-academic-enrichment-grants-what-districts-are-prioritizing-new-flexibilities-0.