Youth Risk Behavior Survey

(YRBS)

Results: 2021 YRBS Report

Purpose

  • The purpose of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) is to help measure the prevalence of behaviors that put the youth of Wakefield at risk for significant health and social problems that can occur during adolescence and adulthood. The data informs the appropriate personnel in order to allocate resources that aid in the planning, prevention, intervention, and evaluation of such risky behaviors.

Development

  • The 2021 Wakefield Youth Risk Behavior Survey was adapted from the Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), originally developed by the Centers for Disease Control. Typically issued every 2 years, the questions in the survey measure student demographics, substance use, protective factors, suicidal behaviors, personal safety, sexual health, exercise, and weight loss. The 2021 Middlesex League Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) was supported financially by Lahey Health who provided funding to conduct the survey and develop a series of district-level reports for each participating school district as well as a regional report for the entire Middlesex League. This work was supported by John Snow, Inc. (JSI), a public health management consulting and research organization dedicated to improving the health of individuals and communities. JSI provided technical assistance to administer the surveys, collect and compile data across the participating school districts, analyze the survey results, and develop the reports.

Samples

Wakefield’s 2021 survey was administered in April 2021 to the following sample of students:

  • Wakefield Memorial High School
    • 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th
    • 736
  • Galvin Middle School
    • 7th, 8th
    • 448

Impact of the Pandemic on Wakefield Youth Concerning Trends:

  • 58% of Galvin and 62% of WMHS students reported having feelings of fear, anger, sadness, worry, numbness during the pandemic.
  • 24% of Galvin students and 39% of WMHS students reported worsening of their mental health conditions during the pandemic.
  • 27% of Galvin and 36% of WMHS students reported that their mental health was not good most of the time or always (during the pandemic).
  • At WMHS this number increased to 73% for Genderqueer students, 46% for Multi-Race students, 45% for Asian students, and 43% for Black students.
  • At WMHS 45% of females vs. 22% of males reported experiencing poor mental health.
  • At Galvin this number increased to 67% for Genderqueer students, 40% for Multi-Race students, and 42% for Black students.
  • At Galvin 33% of females vs. 17% of males reported experiencing poor mental health

Other Trends:

  • Vaping/E-Cigarette Use has continued to decline since it’s peak in 2017, with 16% of WMHS students and 3% of Galvin students reported to use e-cigarettes/vapes in the past 30 days.
  • Marijuana use has also continued to decline since it’s peak in 2017, with 16% of WMHS and 1% of GMS students reported to use Marijuana in the past 30 days.
  • 26% of WMHS students reported using alcohol and 15% reported binge drinking in the past 30 days, slightly higher than Middlesex League counterparts.
  • The number of WMHS who perceive regular use the following substances as risk of harm: Alcohol 78%, Marijuana 52%, Prescription drugs 97%, smoking cigarettes 92%, and vaping 86%. All rates of perception of harm have increased over the past six years.
  • 12% of WMHS students and 25% of GMS students reported being bullied online in the past couple of months. 10% of WMHS students and 26% of Galvin students reported being bullied in school over the past couple of months.
  • This number of students who reported being bullied online increased for Genderqueer youth (30% WMHS and 43% GMS), 33% of Black GMS students.  
  • Females (16% of WMHS and 31% of GMS) reported being bullied online at higher rates than Males (6% of WMHS and 18% of GMS).
  • Driving: 5% of WMHS students reported driving under the influence of Marijuana while 25% checked their cell phone, texted, or emailed while driving (past month)
  • Number of WMHS students reported they were physically forced to have sexual intercourse, experienced sexual violence, and experienced sexual dating violence was slightly higher than Middlesex League counterparts

Protective Factors:

  • 59% of GMS students have at least one teacher/adult to talk to & 80% of GMS students have a parent/guardian or other adult to talk to.
  • 67% of WMHS students have at least one teacher adult to talk to (higher than Middlesex League) & 83% have a parent/guardian to talk to.
  • 51% of WMHS participate in school organized or Interscholastic sports.  24% of WMHS and 31% of GMS participate in music, theater or arts.

Strategies

  • The following is a list of some of the strategies WPS, in collaboration with community partners, are implementing to address risk & protective factors identified in Wakefield’s Youth Risk Behavior Results.
  • Strategies to address students’ social-emotional well being:
  • Increased Social Emotional Student Support Staffing by 400% in the past 6 years.
  • District Behavioral Health Team monthly meetings.
  • Collaboration with local graduate schools to have School Psychologist Interns at each level within the district.
  • Development of WPS Strategy for Social Emotional Health and Learning.
  • INTERFACE Referral Program- Over 80 WPS Student Referrals annually.
  • Youth Mental Health First Aid: 100+ WPS faculty certified. Additional WPS Professional Development focused on Anxiety, Social Media, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
  • Student Support Website established.
  • Increased programming with Elliot Crisis Management (at school), NAN Project & continuum of care with schools, police and families.
  • Signs of Suicide Screening implemented with 8th & 10th grade students. Immediate support systems and referrals were provided for students who screened at risk. 
  • Increased Parent workshops on Mental Health topics in collaboration with Wake-Up, Parent Partnership & Wakefield SEPAC.
  • Evidenced-based curriculum Michigan Model includes K-12 Social-Emotional Curriculum in Health Classes and Elementary Classrooms.

Substance Use Prevention:

  • Wake-Up (Wakefield Unified Prevention) Coalition: active participation from school faculty and students (10 Youth Action Team Leaders & 70 club members).
  • Health Class Curriculum providing students with increase knowledge of risk of harm and refusal skills (K-5, 7th, 8th, 9th, & 10th grades) through the Evidenced-Based Michigan Model.
  • Peer-to-peer e-cig/vaping presentations in all 9th grade health classes by Wake-Up Youth Action Team.
  • Bathroom Buzz (WMHS) & News Flush (Galvin) to change norms of "everyone is doing it", when in reality most students are making the healthy choice.
  • Galvin Youth Action Team & High School Youth Action Team initiatives.
  • Parent Sports Orientation Nights.
  • Coaches Trainings & Newsletters.
  • Annual Parent University.
  • Implement universal screening tool “SBIRT” Screening Brief Intervention Referral to Treatment with all 7th & 9th graders.
  • Implement school-based Substance Use Diversion Program, using iDecide program developed by MGH/Harvard Medical School.
  • Increase number of students referred to SAFE Project.
  • Develop Quarterly Teacher Newsletter.
  • Established Healthy & Safe Senior Week with the development of WMHS Senior Night in 2018.
  • Violence & Bullying & Building Positive School Culture:
  • School Resource Officers in GMS & Wakefield Memorial High School
  • Student clubs to help build positive school culture and support students including Diversity Club (Galvin), Gay-Straight Alliance (WMHS), Black Student Union, Service clubs, etc.
  • School faculty participation in Wakefield Alliance Against Violence (WAAV).
  • Respond Advocate visits Galvin & Wakefield Memorial High School Health Classes (Healthy Relationships)
  • HS Diversity leaders trained by Anti-Defamation League.
  • Leaders go into 9th & 10th & middle school classes to present lessons on the ID/prevention of bullying, harassment, and discrimination.
  • Galvin established ADL leadership group.
  • Galvin 8th grade leadership orientation.
  • RAD KIDS Program and RAD (Rape Aggression Defense) for HS Women.
  • Several other Galvin & WMHS initiatives