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The newly-released findings of the MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey (MWAHS) provide fresh data that is already driving improvements in the wellness programs at the Ashland Middle School (AMS) and Ashland High School (AHS). In a community meeting held last month, AMS Principal David DiGirolamo and AHS Principal Kelley St. Coeur presented highlights of the survey students took in November 2014.
Funded by the MetroWest Health Foundation since 2006, this landmark survey is administered to middle- and high school-aged youth every two years to monitor patterns and trends in risk behaviors and identify emerging health issues at the local and regional levels.
Findings from the MWAHS are used to improve health education, inform prevention efforts and set priorities for achieving a healthier youth population. Data relates to the topics of substance use, violence, bullying and cyberbullying, unintentional injury, mental health, sexual behavior, body image, nutrition, physical activity and protective factors.
Survey Methodology
A total of 537 middle school students in grades 6 through 8 took part in the 2014 MWAHS, representing 96 percent of the AMS school population, and 652 high school students in grades 9 through 12 completed the 45-minute, pencil and paper survey, representing nearly 91 percent of that student body. Participation in the survey is voluntary, and all responses are treated anonymously. For the most part, survey questions remain consistent from year to year, but occasionally questions are added as issues arise. For example, 2010 was the first year the high school survey included questions on texting while driving. Questions on cyberbullying, sexting and the use of e-cigarettes were added to the 2014 survey.
Greater Focus Needed
on Cyberbullying and Mental Health
Highlights from the 2014 data show the schools are making important advances in some behavioral health areas and reflect decreases in tobacco and marijuana use and in physical fighting. While school administrators agree that these issues will receive continued attention, they are learning more about certain areas of concern, including cyberbullying and mental health particularly among female students.
“Overall, we are pleased with the findings of the MetroWest survey results at Ashland Middle School,” Principal David DiGirolamo said. “Current use of tobacco, alcohol and marijuana all decreased from the last survey in 2012. Current tobacco use went from 2 percent to 1 percent, alcohol use decreased from 5 percent to 4 percent, and marijuana use went from 5 percent to 0 percent.”
In analytical reporting, “current” use is defined as any reported use of a specific substance in the past 30 days, and “lifetime” use indicates use of a specific substance at least once in a respondent’s life.
Although bullying at AMS saw a significant decrease, cyberbullying remained constant at 21 percent. School improvement plans now include the addition of separate daytime and evening educational presentations this spring for students and parents, respectively, to address cyberbullying and cybersafety. Guidance counselors are already delivering lessons about cyberbullying during wellness classes and as part of the school’s Second Step curriculum, according to DiGirolamo.
Second Step is a research-based school program that teaches important life skills in age-appropriate ways.
At the high school campus, cigarette use is reported at an all-time low and lifetime marijuana use has decreased from 37 percent in 2010 to 28 percent in 2014, but 25 percent of the student population completing surveys self-reported trying e-cigarettes, which is cause for concern. Current e-cig use stands at 15 percent. Dating violence has seen a steady decrease over the last two surveys, binge drinking is down from 20 percent to 18 percent, and prescription drug use is down from 9 percent to 7 percent. However, drinking overall has increased 10 percent for females, and school administrators will be looking very closely at this pattern. There has been a slight rise in self-reported cyberbullying victims, from 20 percent to 22 percent, and students report that life is very stressful (34 percent up from 23 percent) and reflect an increase in depressive symptoms (16 percent to 24 percent). There are also small increases in reports of self injury and suicide ideation.
“We are pleased with the overall results of the 2014 survey and the downward trends in so many areas,” St. Coeur stated. “We will continue to use this data as part of our social norms campaign to highlight the many positive choices students at Ashland High School are making. Our priority is ongoing support of students who struggle with mental health needs, especially since these needs can impact all choices students make. We will continue as a school community to build positive relationships among our students, develop a consistent wellness curriculum across grades, and teach resiliency and mindfulness skills.”
Over the past year, the STAND (Students Taking a Noble Direction) campaign at AHS has featured posters carrying messages that reinforce positive decision-making. According to St. Coeur, the findings from this survey are being used to inform the next iteration of the school’s social norms health awareness campaign. For example, one poster reads: “87 percent of AHS students report that parents would think it was wrong for them to smoke marijuana” (a data point from the survey). By learning that healthy choices are the norm, students will be better able to make well-informed decisions about their health.
To address concerns over student mental health issues, both schools are examining their wellness curricula to look for other ways to increase support for student physical, social, and emotional well being. At AMS, administrators implemented “Mindful Mondays” during advisory periods starting in early December, just following the release of survey findings. During Mindful Mondays, students are encouraged to take some time out for structured activities related to stress reduction, such as mindful breathing and meditation.
Both schools will continue engaging professional development and training for faculty on anxiety, depression, suicide and other mental health issues. Additionally, the AHS will partner with Middlesex Partnerships for Youth and the District Attorney’s Office to help educate students about the dangers of sexting over social media.
Wellness Takes a
Community
In addition to the school community, members of Ashland’s Decisions at Every Turn Coalition, a community resource to help prevent youth substance abuse, will continue to promote and advocate an increased awareness and knowledge about important youth issues and encourage parent-teen dialogue about making healthy choices.
According to Selma Chamine, AHS ninth grader and Coalition member, “The amount of important information that parents are not aware of is incredibly overwhelming, especially about any type of addiction that may develop into a mental health risk.”
School administrators and faculty encourage parents to have regular conversations with their children about the topics covered by the survey and to reach out to them or to the Coalition for ideas on how to best communicate with young people about these issues.
“There is a lot to learn and things are constantly changing,” DiGirolamo remarked. “There has to be a constant conversation, but if we can keep it up as a group, as a community, we will be making progress.”
View the full survey data online, http://ahs.ashland.k12.ma.us/ and http://ams.ashland.k12.ma.us. For information about Ashland’s Decisions at Every Turn Coalition, visit www.AshlandDecisions.org.