Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows improvements in mental health, physical activity

RALEIGH, NC (WTVD) — After years of mental health and physical activity measures trending downward, the newest Youth Risk Behavior Survey showed positive gains in middle and high school students.

“We have data that shows a relationship between the types of grades kids typically make versus the type of risk factors they’re exposed to. We see that kids who are more physically active tend to get better grades. Kids who have better mental health tend to get better grades,” said Les Spell, NC Healthy Schools Data and Policy Consultant for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Spell, a former educator, is encouraged by the findings, which are compiled every two years by students across the state. Survey responses are anonymous.

It shows that the percentage of middle school students who reported feeling sad or hopeless fell from 43% to 39%, while the percentage of high school students who reported feeling sad or hopeless fell from 35% to 32 %. Further, the percentage of high school students who seriously thought about suicide fell from 22% to 18%.

In terms of physical activity, 42% of middle school students and 52% of high school students reported engaging in one hour of physical activity at least five days per week, with eight points jumping in each group.

“When we saw that physical activity increased and mental health factors turned in the right direction, we thought what better time than to try and take advantage of this moment,” Spell said.

Last month, the State Board of Education presented a policy change that would require high school students to engage in 60 minutes of physical activity per week. Currently, the only graduation requirement is a semester of health and education. This amendment will be voted on at next month’s meeting.

Spell also praised the implementation of the school-based mental health policy, as well as a federal grant to increase the number of social workers and counselors to help improve outcomes.

“We’re waiting to hear back on a grant application now for school psychologists. We’re trying to get additional funding to recruit,” Spell said.

According to Mental Health America, signs of loneliness in teens include:

• They retreat to their rooms for long periods of time
• Talk to your parents more than usual
• I don’t seem to have any friends to hang out with outside of school
• Talk negatively about themselves

“No matter what you’re going through, you can always talk to someone,” said Theophilus Jones, a father and educator.

Jones is the founder of the Southeast Raleigh Panthers, a youth program that provides activities and extracurriculars to more than 200 children.

“When you see that kid come in and he’s shy, shy, maybe insecure about his weight, and by the middle to the end of the season, he’s one of the first kids to practice, one of the kids who tells jokes and laugh with everyone. , it’s a great thing to see that boy grow,” Jones said.

It supports further efforts to increase physical activity, including opportunities for students to learn outside of the classroom.

“We don’t call them issues, we call them challenges. And we can overcome any challenge we face once we overcome the challenge,” Jones said.

Further findings in the Youth Risk Behavior Survey revealed that high school students report decreases in use of vapor products, marijuana, and alcohol, while smoking remains at an all-time low (4%) .

To watch ‘The Silent Struggle,’ a mental health town hall presented by ABC11 with a panel of guest experts, click here.