Chinese Canadian Youth in Vancouver Mental Health Survey (2023)
GENERAL FINDINGS
- A total of 94 responses were received. About half were filled out by parents and half by youth and young adults.
- Represents Greater Vancouver demographic. Majority of the respondents were middle class Cantonese speaking families.
- Among the youth and young adult respondents, more than half were born and raised in non-English speaking countries and about 1/5 were CBC
- Male:female respondent ratio is about 50:50 ......
Highlights from the Youth and Young Adults Mental/Emotional Health Survey, 2023 (Total # of responses collected = 95)
- Respondents Distribution: 48% parents, 52 % youth and young adults. Among the youth, 32 youths between 15-18, 17 young adults , 45 parents with children aged 15-21. Among the youths, 43% were male, 55% female, 2% preferring not to answer.
- Parents seem to underestimate or unaware of youths’ situations. Parents tend to have a more optimistic assessment compared to youths. This may indicate that the parents are not well attuned to the youths’ actual feelings. The Top three Criteria of Good Mental Health chosen by the 2 groups were very different.
- Youths’ depression levels shown in the survey are concerning. There were 67% (26 out of 39) in the category of moderate, moderately severe and severe depression. Although no one responded had attempted suicide, but some reported they had suicidal thoughts. The majority of them didn’t share with anybody.
- Academic stress and concern for future study/career paths are the top 2 stressors among this age group......
Thriving Spirituality - Why Canadian Chinese Youths are Committed to Faith (2025)
Why do some young people stay deeply committed to their Christian faith — even as so many others are walking away?
The Thriving Spirituality project set out to explore this hopeful question. Led by a team of pastors and theological educators across Vancouver and Calgary, the study focused on Canadian Chinese Christian youths aged 18–27 who are actively living out their faith. Through in-depth interviews with young leaders serving in churches, the project sought to understand what sustains vibrant faith during one of life’s most transitional stages.
Rather than asking why youth are leaving, this research asks:
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What fuels their resilience, sense of calling, and commitment to their Christian faith?
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Why do these young people feel that church is important?
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How do cultural identity, life experiences, and mentoring relationships shape their faith journey?
The findings reveal a rich tapestry of personal devotion, spiritual encounters, community support, cultural reflection, and leadership opportunities. The stories gathered are not only inspiring—they offer practical insights for churches, parents, and ministry leaders committed to nurturing the next generation of disciples.
We are excited to share with you the full report, which includes thematic analysis, interview excerpts, ministry implications, and comparisons with national and global studies on Gen Z faith......
