S.H.A.C. School Health Advisory Council

THE MISSION STATEMENT All children will graduate successfully from our district with a comprehensive health education that has prepared them to enter adulthood to maintain a healthy lifestyle

OUR GOAL Identify problems that our youth are facing today Recommend to the school board educational series according to the needs of our children

Methods Surveys made by S.H.A.C. members addressing topics including: – Mental Health – Physical Health – Substance Abuse – Self Harm/ Violence – Sex Were given to students from grades 3 rd thru 12 th

Methods All students took the survey (excluding absentees) – 3 rd and 4 th graders had a modified survey excluding questions on sex and dating violence No discussions allowed Survey was anonymous Results reported in percentages

Result 3 rd and 4 th grade

Mental Health We asked: – 1. Have you ever felt lonely at school? – 2. Have you ever been depressed? – 3. Have you ever thought about attempting suicide?

Bullying We Asked: – Have you ever been bullied at school?

Physical Health We Asked: – 1. Are you overweight? – 2. Are you physically active?

Substance Abuse We Asked – 1. Have you tried alcohol? – 2. Have you tried tobacco products?

Self Harm We asked: – Do you hurt yourself on purpose?

Result 6 th – 8 th grades

RESULTS 9 th- 12 th grade reported in percentages

Mental Health We asked: – 1. Have you ever felt lonely? – 2. Have you ever been depressed? – 3. Have you ever thought about attempting suicide?

Bullying We asked: – 1. Have you ever been bullied? – 2. Do you bully other students?

Physical Health We asked: – 1. Are you overweight? – 2. Do you exercise regularly?

Substance Abuse We asked: – 1. Do you smoke tobacco or dip? – 2. Do you drink alcohol? – 3. Do you use drugs?

Substance Abuse We asked: – 1. Do you smoke tobacco or dip? – 2. Do you drink alcohol? – 3. Do you use drugs?

Self Harm We asked: – Do you or anyone you know harm your body by self mutilation – such as cutting? (question #3 on the next chart)

Self Harm/Violence We Asked: – 1. Have you experienced dating violence? – 2. Do you play choking games? – 3. Do you or anyone you know harm your body by self mutilation – such as cutting?

Sex We asked – Are you sexually active

SUMMARY Mental health in the areas of depression, suicide and bullying exceed prediction – Surveys show relatively equal results across all grade levels Physical health is better than expected Self Harm is worse than expected – The rate of self harm increases with higher grade levels Substance abuse (one is too many) – The use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs increases with grade levels Sex rate doubles with sexual maturation – Reported incidences doubles every other grade in middle and high school

CONCLUSION S.H.A.C. recommends that the school address issues on Mental Health first and foremost because it can be related to other problems such as depression/suicide, substance use/abuse, bullying, self harm, and ultimately physical health as well.