Montreal’s public health department is sounding the alarm over a steady increase in violence within teenage romantic relationships, according to newly released survey results.
Data collected during the 2022–23 academic year show that a growing number of high school students aged 14 and older report experiencing some form of violence physical, sexual, or psychological from a romantic partner. The findings come from the third edition of a province-wide youth health survey, which gathered responses from more than 70,000 students across Quebec, including nearly 5,800 students from 92 schools in Montreal.
One of the most troubling findings is that eight per cent of Montreal high school students aged 14 or older reported experiencing at least one forced sexual encounter in their lifetime. That marks an increase from previous surveys conducted in 2010–11 and 2016–17, when the figure stood at five per cent.
Girls appear to be disproportionately affected. In the latest survey, 12 per cent of girls reported having experienced sexual violence, compared with four per cent of boys.
Salomé Lemieux, a research officer with Montreal’s public health department and the report’s author, said the upward trend has been visible since the survey’s first edition more than a decade ago.
“The eight per cent figure is especially concerning because it refers to forced sexual relations, whether committed by another young person or by an adult,” Lemieux said.
The report also highlights violence within dating relationships more broadly. Among Montreal youth who have been in a romantic relationship, 38 per cent reported being victims of at least one form of partner violence. In 2010–11, that number was 31 per cent.
While the increase is worrying, Lemieux suggests several factors may be influencing the data. The growing role of technology in teenagers’ lives has created new avenues for abuse. Digital monitoring, social media surveillance, and tracking through geolocation are among the behaviors increasingly reported by young people.
“Young people now experience violence in new spaces,” she explained, noting that online control and monitoring can intensify relationship conflicts.
At the same time, Lemieux points to broader social changes that may also play a role in the rising numbers. The #MeToo movement, which gained global momentum in 2017, has encouraged more survivors to speak openly about their experiences and may have helped young people better identify and report sexual violence.
“It raises the question: Are we seeing more cases, or are we seeing more disclosure?” she said.
The timing of the most recent survey may also have influenced the findings. Data were collected toward the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, a period marked by social isolation and heightened emotional strain among youth. Previous research has shown that psychological distress, low self-esteem, and problematic alcohol use can increase both the risk of experiencing and perpetrating violence.
For the 2022–23 school year, 43 per cent of Montreal students who had been in at least one romantic relationship during the past year reported either experiencing or inflicting some form of violence. That figure has remained relatively stable across survey cycles, but public health officials say it remains unacceptably high.
Experts warn that exposure to violent relationships at a young age can have long-lasting consequences, including mental health challenges, risky behaviors, and the perpetuation of violence in future partnerships.
To address the issue, the report calls for early intervention strategies focused on strengthening social and emotional skills. Teaching children how to manage conflict, recognize unhealthy behaviors, and seek help are considered critical steps in prevention.
Lemieux emphasized the importance of building supportive environments where young people feel safe disclosing abuse and accessing resources.
“Talking about healthy, balanced relationships needs to start early,” she said. “Young people must be able to recognize violence if they experience it and know that asking for help is both possible and encouraged.”
Public health officials say that reversing the trend will require coordinated efforts from schools, families, and community organizations to foster safe, respectful relationships among youth.
