District mental‑health survey shows mixed trends: bullying and some substance‑use up, protective factors strong
April 01, 2024 | RSU 51/MSAD 51, School Districts, Maine
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
District mental-health staff presented 2023 results from the Maine Integrated Youth Survey (MIYHS/MyHAUS) to the MSAD 51 Board on April 1, highlighting both areas of concern and key protective factors.
The data: Eric Brown (district risk-assessment mental-health specialist) and Peter Scott (high-school social worker) reported grade‑banded summaries. For grades 7–8 the presenters cited a rise in students reporting being bullied on school property (from 34.5% in 2021 to a higher 2023 figure referenced in the slides) and rises in reports of sadness or hopelessness. For grades 9–12, presenters reported that approximately 19.4% of high‑school students had been offered, sold, or given illegal drugs on school property (an estimate the presenters translated to roughly 72 students); past‑30‑day marijuana use and vaping figures were also discussed as trending concerns in some cohorts.
Protective factors: presenters emphasized positive results alongside risks. An estimated 86.7% of middle‑school students and nearly 90% of high‑school students reported feeling safe at school; 73% (middle school) to about 74% (high school) reported having at least one caring teacher, and the majority identified at least one parent or caregiver they could talk to, which presenters described as strong protective factors.
District response and proposals: Eric Brown and Peter Scott outlined current supports (a district mental-health specialist position, social workers, the Sandy Hook Promise anonymous reporting app, Save Promise Club, unified basketball, Best Buddies) and suggested additional steps including curriculum adjustments (targeting ninth and eleventh grades), evidence‑based prevention programs, multidisciplinary substance‑abuse prevention, and district messaging campaigns. Presenters said the district plans to continue advisory-based social‑emotional learning and to convene staff training on reporting and identification of at‑risk students.
Board reaction: board members asked how the results should inform the next strategic plan; both presenters said reducing the percent of students who seriously consider suicide would be an immediate priority. Members expressed support for expanding health education and for sustaining student-support staffing in the budget.
Evidence: presenters repeatedly compared district percentages to state averages (state sample size cited as 15,222) and referenced multi‑year trends (2021 vs. 2023). Detailed slides and district sample sizes for each grade band were presented during the meeting.
The data: Eric Brown (district risk-assessment mental-health specialist) and Peter Scott (high-school social worker) reported grade‑banded summaries. For grades 7–8 the presenters cited a rise in students reporting being bullied on school property (from 34.5% in 2021 to a higher 2023 figure referenced in the slides) and rises in reports of sadness or hopelessness. For grades 9–12, presenters reported that approximately 19.4% of high‑school students had been offered, sold, or given illegal drugs on school property (an estimate the presenters translated to roughly 72 students); past‑30‑day marijuana use and vaping figures were also discussed as trending concerns in some cohorts.
Protective factors: presenters emphasized positive results alongside risks. An estimated 86.7% of middle‑school students and nearly 90% of high‑school students reported feeling safe at school; 73% (middle school) to about 74% (high school) reported having at least one caring teacher, and the majority identified at least one parent or caregiver they could talk to, which presenters described as strong protective factors.
District response and proposals: Eric Brown and Peter Scott outlined current supports (a district mental-health specialist position, social workers, the Sandy Hook Promise anonymous reporting app, Save Promise Club, unified basketball, Best Buddies) and suggested additional steps including curriculum adjustments (targeting ninth and eleventh grades), evidence‑based prevention programs, multidisciplinary substance‑abuse prevention, and district messaging campaigns. Presenters said the district plans to continue advisory-based social‑emotional learning and to convene staff training on reporting and identification of at‑risk students.
Board reaction: board members asked how the results should inform the next strategic plan; both presenters said reducing the percent of students who seriously consider suicide would be an immediate priority. Members expressed support for expanding health education and for sustaining student-support staffing in the budget.
Evidence: presenters repeatedly compared district percentages to state averages (state sample size cited as 15,222) and referenced multi‑year trends (2021 vs. 2023). Detailed slides and district sample sizes for each grade band were presented during the meeting.
View the Full Meeting & All Its Details
This article offers just a summary. Unlock complete video, transcripts, and insights as a Founder Member.
✓
Watch full, unedited meeting videos
✓
Search every word spoken in unlimited transcripts
✓
AI summaries & real-time alerts (all government levels)
✓
Permanent access to expanding government content
30-day money-back guarantee
