Healthy Youth Survey results for 2023 released
The state 2023 Healthy Youth Survey results were released recently and are ready for schools to access. Anyone interested in learning more about using the HYS tools is invited to join a virtual training on Zoom conducted by NWESD Prevention team on April 1 at 10:30 a.m.. The training will be geared toward Student Assistance Professionals and is open to anyone.
The following county contacts are listed to get answers about HYS results.
An overview of the state results was compiled by the state Department of Health, which reported that students show improved health behaviors and mental health along with increased social support. Some areas continue to be highly concerning.
Here are some highlights for the NWESD region:
- Bullying: 33 percent of sixth graders and 28 percent of eighth graders report they were bullied at school in the previous month.
- Cannabis and Alcohol: 92 percent of tenth graders report no current use of marijuana. For alcohol, 91 percent of 10 tenth graders reported no current use.
- Prescription Drugs: When asked about use of prescription drugs not prescribed to them, 9 out of 10 students said their parents or friends would think it was wrong. About 2 percent of students reported misusing painkillers.
- Sad or Hopeless Feelings: 30 percent of tenth graders and 32 percent of twelfth graders reported feeling sad or hopeless for at least two weeks in the past year.
- Suicidal Thoughts or Actions: Among eighth graders, 15 percent said they had considered suicide, 13 percent said they made a suicide plan and 8 percent reported suicide attempts in the past year. Those rates were about the same for tenth and twelfth graders.
