WATERTOWN — From mid-April to mid-May this year, the Alliance for Better Communities again surveyed students in grades seven through 12 in 10 school districts across Jefferson County for its Prevention Needs Assessment. young people from Jefferson County.
According to Anita K. Seefried-Brown, project director for the Alliance for Better Communities, the organization regularly conducts surveys to collect information from students about substance use and other behaviors among young people.
There was no survey in 2020 or 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 4,666 children participated this year, although this does not mean that all students answered every question.
The survey covers alcohol consumption and binge drinking, social-emotional health and more. This was the first time that questions about socio-emotional health were asked.
“Mental health experts often estimate that there can be a two to four year delay between traumatic events and the onset of serious mental health issues,” Ms Seefried-Brown said. “During the pandemic, young people have felt this disjointed sense of a lack of predictability and controllability. So this lack of control often leads to mental health issues. around these issues. However, it will really take all facets and sectors of the community to help create a safe environment where all of us, adults and young people alike, can be helped to find balance.
She said schools, parents and youth-serving organizations cannot do the work on their own. She believes that as a community and people of goodwill, the county will commit to keeping itself sane and safe. Ms Seefried-Brown said the survey helps Pivot, Alliance and Youth Alliance, as well as schools and other youth-serving organizations, develop appropriate programs, as well as data for grant applications. . It is a living document that is shared with members of the community who are, in various ways, connected to the provision of services to young people.
When asked “Sometimes I think life isn’t worth it,” 2,527 students in grades 7-12 answered no; 1,069 responded somewhat in agreement; and 463 answered yes. The breakdown of those who answered yes was 74 students in seventh grade, 83 in eighth grade, 85 in ninth grade, 74 in 10th grade, 75 in 11th grade and 72 in 12th grade.
To the question “During the past year, have you felt depressed or sad most of the time, even if you felt good sometimes?” » a total of 4,033 students answered, of which 2,128 answered no; 1,183 answered that they somewhat agreed and 722 answered yes.
A total of 4,020 students responded to the question: “During the past 12 months, have you ever seriously considered attempting suicide?” with 3,362 no responses and 658 yes responses, meaning that one in six students have seriously considered attempting suicide. The breakdown of yes responses was 111 seventh graders, 113 eighth graders, 117 ninth graders, 117 10th graders, 103 11th graders and 97 12th graders.
To the question “During the past 12 months, how many times (if any) have you actually attempted suicide?” a total of 4,028 students responded, of which 3,676 students, or 91.3%, responded that they had never attempted suicide. A total of 169 students answered that they had tried once, 124 answered that they had tried two or three times, 28 answered that they had tried four or five times and 31 answered that they had tried six times. times or more.
Of those who said they had tried six or more times, the breakdown was four students in seventh grade, seven students in eighth grade, six in ninth grade, five in 10th grade, three in 11th grade and six in 12th grade. This equates to 1 in 11.4 students attempting suicide.
According to Celia E. Cook, data support specialist for the Youth Alliance of Jefferson County, the Alliance met with middle and high school students in small groups from four districts with a series of questions to better understand how young people feel and what motivates these statistics. .
“A lot of students feel the stress that happens at school, that happens with their teachers, the administration, and they also feel the stress at home with their parents and kind of how things are today. “said Ms Cook. . “And I think being almost sandwiched in that stress, they kind of feel like their stress isn’t always considered or maybe not prioritized.”
She said many students find counseling services helpful, but there just aren’t enough for everyone. When the groups discussed substance use, what students use and why, those in the Alliance heard a lot about how the height of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused social restriction of children and there wasn’t much else they could do with so much unattended. time. So, she says, they would try things that they might not have done if they had been involved in their usual routine.
“The pandemic has led young people to have greater social and emotional health issues, there’s no doubt about that,” said Stephen A. Jennings, public health planner for the Jefferson County Public Health Department. “Our responsibility is to prevent this from happening, and we plan to do this by engaging all community sectors to update them and obviously educate them, and then seek their help to ensure that young people have the services they need. they need on the mental health and addictions fronts, as well as prevention messages to encourage young people to never use and, if they already use, to quit.
Mr. Jennings, along with other community leaders, attended a recent Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, or CADCA, conference as Jefferson County’s public health planner and as chairman of the Alliance for Better Communities.
He said the big takeaway from the CADCA conference was the need for prevention for young people on all fronts. When it comes to substance use prevention, social and emotional health, and how poor health leads many people to substance use, the message was loud and clear that organizations need to redouble their efforts by working with young people to reverse the trends they see, he said.
Jennings said those who attended the conference were advised by CADCA leadership to connect with DuPage County, Illinois regarding the integration of their alliance plans into the three-year plan. County Community Health Improvement Plan to be submitted to the New York State Department of Health for approval in December. A Zoom conference was held with DuPage County late Tuesday afternoon, and the organization learned how it actually did this to strengthen and measure its initiatives in community sectors, as well as support initiatives at long term.
The Jefferson County Public Health Department, along with the county’s three hospitals, have already decided that mental health and substance abuse prevention will be a CHIP priority in the upcoming plan. Through late summer and fall, specific targets will be determined, along with goals and activities to work on over the next three years. This plan will include the priorities and objectives of the Alliance, in particular the targets aimed at having an impact on young people.
“We also need to meaningfully engage young people and make them understand their own power to overcome these risks and threats by working with school districts and youth-serving organizations to engage young people in community service and advocacy on these issues. said Mr. Jennings. “Young people have incredible power, but they need to develop their skills to use that power effectively. We will work with youth to do this and we will draw on the resources of CADCA and our national CADCA partners who have had measurable success with youth initiatives to help us.
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