Island Health has released a sweeping new report on the health of people living on Vancouver Island, offering a clear look at how communities are doing and where major concerns persist.
The 2025 Population Health Status Report shows encouraging progress in areas that directly affect children and youth.
According to Island Health, the rate of child and youth poverty dropped 41 per cent between 2016 and 2021.
The report also notes that childhood immunization rates have improved since the pandemic and now sit above the provincial average. Youth indicators related to substance use, self-harm and hospital visits for mental health are also trending downward.
Island Health’s Chief Medical Health Officer, Dr. Réka Gustafson, says these positive shifts show that early investment pays off.
She notes that youth are reporting stronger protective factors, including a growing sense of confidence and more young people identifying a safe adult in their lives.
“We are seeing progress happen in real time,” Dr. Gustafson said in a statement. “From decreasing child poverty to improvements in youth mental health, these trends reflect the strength and resilience that exist across Island communities.”
The report also highlights some serious challenges such as the overall life expectancy in the Island Health region that has fallen in recent years and sits below the provincial average.
The gap between the highest and lowest life expectancy in Island Health spans roughly eight years, depending on where people live.
According to the report, illicit drug toxicity remains one of the most significant contributors to premature mortality, with a median age of death of 44.
Men continue to be more heavily impacted. The difference in life expectancy between males and females has widened to about five years.
Vancouver Island residents also use tobacco, cannabis and alcohol more often than people elsewhere in BC, despite use declining overall.
Alcohol is currently responsible for the highest rate of substance-related hospital admissions in the region, and unregulated drug poisoning continues to be the leading cause of death for people aged 19 to 59.
“Substance use remains elevated in the Island Health region and continues to lead to avoidable harms,” said Dr. Gustafson. “Lasting progress requires prevention, strong communities and policies that address the root causes of health inequities.”
While youth mental health has been improving, it has not fully returned to pre-pandemic levels. The report points to a decline in feelings of community belonging among teens since 2018, particularly in northern communities.
At the same time, mood and anxiety disorders continue to rise across all ages.
Roughly one in three Island Health residents reported needing mental health support in 2023 but did not receive it. Access issues were noted across the region, especially in larger urban centres and rural areas.
The report outlines several social and economic conditions that continue to shape health outcomes. Food insecurity is affecting nearly one in five Island Health residents.
The average monthly cost of healthy eating for a family of four reached $1,366 in 2022, the highest among all health authorities.
Access to a family doctor remains one of the biggest challenges with 70% of residents reported difficulty finding care when needed, and nearly one in five said they were unable to access urgent care.
Communicable diseases that had been relatively controlled in previous years are also resurging.
According to the full report, cases of shigellosis, tuberculosis and infectious syphilis have increased, with unstable housing identified as a major risk factor in several recent clusters.
Despite the challenges, the report points to several encouraging trends among youth. Self-reported mental health improved steadily over the past two years.
More young people say they feel good about themselves and have trusted adults in their lives, which are key indicators for long-term wellbeing.
These gains coincide with declines in youth alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use over the past five years. Emergency visits for mental health and substance use among youth have also fallen since 2021.
Dr. Gustafson says the data reinforces the importance of community-level support.
“To make lasting improvements, we need to intervene early and work across sectors to support the conditions that allow people to thrive,” she said. “These challenges extend far beyond the health system.”
Island Health intends for the report to help guide conversations between clinicians, public health staff, local governments and community organizations.
Under BC legislation, medical health officers are required to monitor and report on population health trends.
The full 2025 Population Health Status Report, along with a companion highlights document, is available through Island Health.
