About SARAVYC
Twenty years of research that moves youth health forward.
SARAVYC — the Stigma and Resilience Among Vulnerable Youth Centre — is a multidisciplinary research centre based at the UBC School of Nursing. Since 2006, we have studied how stigma, discrimination, violence, and trauma affect the health of young people, and what protective factors help them thrive in spite of it.
Our research is rigorous, community-engaged, and built to travel. Funded by CIHR, Health Canada, the US National Institutes of Health, the Public Health Agency of Canada, and others, our work spans Canada and reaches collaborators across multiple countries. It has shaped clinical practice, influenced legislation, and informed human rights cases.
Our vision: Improved health outcomes and equity for youth—especially those targeted by stigma—throughout Canada and internationally.
20+
Years of youth health research
100+
Peer-reviewed publications
What we study
Our research focuses on youth who face disproportionate health burdens because of who they are — 2SLGBTQ+ young people, Indigenous youth, migrants and refugees, youth experiencing homelessness, and those who have experienced abuse or exploitation.
We examine the health effects of stigma and discrimination, and just as importantly, the factors that build resilience. Our work spans mental health, sexual health, school climate, family relationships, and policy.
Explore our research →Our impact
- SARAVYC conducted Canada’s first national health survey of transgender and non-binary youth in 2014 — findings that have since shaped clinical guidelines, informed human rights cases, and influenced legislation.
- Our award-winning SLEPHI method established that Gender Sexuality Alliances make schools safer for all students, not just 2SLGBTQ+ youth — and that the longer a GSA exists, the greater the impact.
- Our research has influenced public health policy in Canada, the United States, and internationally.
Our Team
PhD, RN, FSAHM, FCAHS, FAAN
Funders and Partners
SARAVYC’s research is made possible through the support of our funders and community partners. We are grateful for their ongoing commitment to youth health equity.
