Research
What we study and why it matters
SARAVYC conducts rigorous, community-engaged research on the health of young people who face stigma, discrimination, and violence. Our work identifies what puts youth at risk, and what helps them thrive.
Featured research
For Our Youth: Health Canada Sexual Health Workshops
Two free, evidence-based workshops currently enrolling across Canada. One is designed for 2SLGBTQ+ youth ages 14–25 (Taking Pride), and one for newcomer parents, caregivers, and guardians. Both were co-developed with community advisors. Participants receive an honorarium.
Bridging Divides
20-year trends in mental and sexual health among migrant, racialized, and refugee youth in Western Canada.
GSA Effects Using SLEPHI
Award-winning research on how Gender Sexuality Alliances improve school safety for all students.
Current projects
For Our Youth: Health Canada Sexual Health Workshops
Free workshops for 2SLGBTQ+ youth and newcomer parents, co-developed with community advisors. Currently enrolling across Canada. Participants receive an honorarium.
Bridging Divides: Immigrant Health and Well-Being
Population-based analysis of 20-year trends in sexual and mental health among migrant, racialized, and refugee youth in Western Canada. Funded by the Canada First Research Excellence Fund.
TranscendentHealth
Adapting a text-based teen pregnancy prevention program for transgender boys. A national randomized controlled trial is planned to test the updated program.
Peer Navigator: HIV Prevention for Street-Involved Youth
Adapting and scaling a peer-based HIV prevention and treatment intervention for street-involved and homeless youth across Canadian and Kenyan sites. Funded by CIHR.
Dating Violence Intervention for 2SLGBTQ+ Youth
Co-developing healthy relationship education modules with and for 2SLGBTQ+ youth. Piloting across BC and scaling nationally.
Tracking Health Disparities for Ethnoculturally Diverse LGB Youth
Analyzing BC Adolescent Health Survey data to identify health disparities and protective factors for LGB youth from Indigenous, East Asian, and South Asian backgrounds. Funded by CIHR Foundation Grant.
Completed projects
Canadian Trans Youth Health Survey (2014, 2019, 2024)
Canada’s first and largest national health survey of transgender and non-binary youth. Findings have shaped clinical guidelines, human rights cases, and legislation across Canada and internationally.
GSA Effects Using SLEPHI
Award-winning research establishing that Gender Sexuality Alliances make schools safer for all students, and that the longer a GSA exists, the greater the impact.
Trans, Nonbinary and Two Spirit Youth in Government Care
Contracted by BC’s Representative for Children and Youth. Findings published in The Right to Thrive (2023), which called for urgent action to protect gender diverse youth in BC.
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