Protective factors can reduce the likelihood of experiencing negative outcomes even for vulnerable youth. For example, a substantial number of youth in the North Shore/Coast Garibaldi area reported being victimized or bullied at school and 16% of these youth had seriously considered suicide in the past year. However, being connected to family or school, having input into their extracurricular activities and being involved in activities which were meaningful to them were each associated with a lower risk of suicidal ideation. These findings show us that building protective factors can assist youth, even those who are vulnerable, to overcome negative experiences, can help young people to make healthier choices and can contribute to more positive health outcomes.
