Montreal’s public health department has released alarming findings showing a concerning rise in the proportion of young people experiencing various forms of violence in their romantic relationships. According to the latest survey conducted during the 2022-23 academic year, eight per cent of Montreal high school students aged 14 or older reported at least one forced sexual encounter in their lifetime, an increase from previous surveys where the average was five per cent.
The data, collected from over 70,000 students across Quebec, indicates a higher percentage of girls (12%) than boys (4%) reporting experiences of sexual violence. In Montreal specifically, 38% of young people in romantic relationships reported being victims of violence, up from 31% in the 2010-11 survey.
Salomé Lemieux, a research officer at the health department, attributes the rise in violence within relationships to factors like increased technology use. She highlights phenomena such as digital surveillance and control through social media as contributing factors to this concerning trend.
Lemieux also points to the impact of movements like #MeToo, which has encouraged victims to speak out and raised awareness about sexual violence. The report underscores the lasting negative effects of violence in relationships on mental, physical, and sexual health, emphasizing the importance of early interventions to build social skills and promote healthy relationships among young people.
