Alcohol, Smoking and Drugs

You may think you've heard it all before -- smoking causes cancer, smoking makes your fingers turn yellow.

There are a few facts you might not have heard before -- who benefits from the sale of tobacco products, why movie stars' smoking is even better than TV advertising and that even young smokers can suffer from respiratory effects.

It's all there on our Web site, You and Me, Smokefree. Other features include an interactive Quit4Life guide designed for youth wanting to quit and a  Real Cost Tool so you can see how much money you'll save by not smoking.

What are drugs? Why do people use them? How do they affect your life? Even if you don't drink or use drugs, you probably know someone who does. We have information to help peers and youth groups deal with alcohol and other drug-related issues.

•  DrugsNot4Me - Learn the effects of drugs and how to say no
• National Native Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program
• Youth and Substance Abuse Publications

Body Image

How you feel about yourself is very important!

Good nutrition is all about making healthy food choices and achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating can help you make healthy nutrition decisions.

Check out  Physical Activity Guide for quizzes and animated videos.

Being active can also help you feel really good about yourself.  Canada's Physical Activity Guide for Youth can help you make choices about physical activity.

Depression

• Our section on mental health.

If you need help now, call the Kid's Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868

Disease

• Childhood & youth cancers
• Our diseases and conditions section.

Family Issues

Parents and You

Having trouble relating to your parents? Get your parents to relate to you. Point them to Parenting teens or check out  The Parent-Teen Relationship.

Violence and Abuse

• Family Violence -- What it is and what to do if a child is being abused or neglected
•  What is child abuse?
•  National Clearinghouse on Family Violence

HIV, AIDS and STDs

See What you need to know about STIs and information on Condoms.

It's Your Health

More health and safety information can be found in our It's Your Health section. Topics include:

• Acne treatments
• Cellular phones
• Condoms
• Earphones
• Hepatitis C
• Menstrual tampons
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen

Medications

• Our helpful medical information section.
• Safe use of health products for weight loss.

Mental Health

• Our section on mental health.
• Coping with stress

Sexuality and Relationships

For guidelines and resources, information on sexually transmitted infections (STI) and a list of helpline numbers, consult the  Sexual Health and Sexually Transmitted Infections Web site of the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Sun Safety

Health Canada shares a joint initiative with Environment Canada called the UV Index Sun Awareness Program. This program is aimed at elementary and high school teachers to teach their students how to use the UV index as a tool to better protect themselves from the harmful UV rays from the sun. Consult our UV Index Sun Awareness Program section to learn more about the program, consult our resources and register your school.

Risky Behaviours

Injuries are a leading cause of death for people under age 20 and motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of injury death.

• Safety & Injuries section
• Measuring Up: A Health Surveillance Update on Canadian Children and Youth
•  Work Injuries

More Information

•  Cancer in Canada's children and youth
•  Federal Science and Technology Community -- Learn about scientists and technologists in the Government of Canada.
• Improving the Health and Well-being of Canada's Youth -- report, 1999
• Learn about Canada's health care system
• More fun sites
•  National Child Day (for ages 13-18)
•  Trends in the Health of Canada's Youth -- report, 1999
•  Youth.gc.ca