Why is Sexual Health Important?

Growing up in a small town in rural Northeastern Alberta, sexual health was always a contentious topic. I grew up having minimal sexual health education mainly based on abstinence and morals throughout my k-12 experience. Not having comprehensive sexual health education affected the majority of my peers growing up especially dealing with STDs, teen pregnancy, consent, internet safety, intimate relationships, questioning their gender or sexual orientation. Access to comprehensive sexual health education is a key component of an individual’s cognitive, emotional, and physical well-being. Without access to comprehensive sexual health education, it causes our youth to struggle with their mental health and engage in unhealthy coping mechanisms such as self-harm, substance use, aggression/violence.

I remember being in grade nine and having a teacher tell all the female students in my classroom that "if you take more than one Plan B in your life; you will die". This impacted my passion for sexual health because of ignorance that creates myths about sexual health and how human sexuality is still a stigmatized subject in society. Especially with the new policies in legislation targeting marginalized communities such as transgender youth community. As a Housing Outreach Worker seeing trans youth who are already stigmatized because of the system and political climate we live in. It is disappointing to see proposed policy changes that restrict access to gender-affirming care and target marginalized communities.

- Zoe Rudyk, ASPSH Board Member