The majority of adolescent respondents, 84 per cent, said their health was good or excellent, although half of them did not consume five daily portions of fruit and vegetables, as recommended by the Health Ministry. (CBC)

An increased number of teens in B.C. reported physical abuse, while the percentage of youth reporting sexual abuse did not improve, in a provincewide survey released Tuesday.

More than 29,000 public-school students in Grades 7 to 12 across the province participated in the Adolescent Health Survey between February and June of last year. The McCreary Centre Society, a Vancouver-based research group, conducted the survey.

The percentage of youth reporting physical abuse was 17 per cent, up two per cent from the previous survey, in 2003. Eight per cent of the respondents reported sexual abuse, while five per cent reported both physical and sexual abuse — a situation that has not improved from 2003 figures.

"Probably the most concerning finding was that after seeing a decline in abuse rates in previous surveys, things have stopped improving, and in the case of physical abuse, the rates have actually risen," said Annie Smith, executive director of the McCreary Centre Society.

Annie Smith, executive director of the McCreary Centre Society, says one of the most encouraging trends is a decrease in reported suicide attempts among teens. (CBC)

Conducted in collaboration with the provincial government, the public health system and school districts, the survey, in the form of a questionnaire, looked at the health status and risk behaviours of B.C. adolescents.

One encouraging trend is a decline in reported teen suicide attempts, Smith said.

The percentage of youth who seriously considered suicide dropped from 16 per cent in 2003 to 12 per cent in 2008. The percentage who actually attempted suicide also fell from seven to five per cent.

"That's the first time we've seen that since 1992, and we've done four surveys, and that's the first time we've seen a decrease in suicide," Smith said.

Fewer teens smoke

Elizabeth Saewyc, research director with the McCreary Centre Society, said there has also been a decrease in teen smoking and drinking, which she attributed to public-health advertising and education.

Three quarters of the students surveyed, or 74 per cent, said they had never smoked a cigarette, compared with 66 per cent in 2003.

The majority of the respondents, or 84 per cent, said their health was good or excellent, although half of them did not consume five daily portions of fruit and vegetables, as recommended by the Health Ministry.

The results from the survey will go to schools and community groups to help them shape programs aimed at teens.