RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) — After years of declining indicators of mental health and physical activity, the most recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey showed positive gains among middle and high school students.
“We have data that shows the relationship between the grades that kids typically get and the risk factors that they’re exposed to. We know that kids who are physically active tend to get better grades, and we know that kids who are mentally healthy tend to get better grades,” said Les Spell, data and policy consultant for NC Healthy Schools at the North Carolina Department of Education.
Spell, a former educator, is encouraged by the results of the survey, which is collected every two years from students across the state and whose responses are anonymous.
The percentage of high school students who reported feeling sad or hopeless decreased from 43% to 39%, while the percentage of junior high school students who reported feeling sad or hopeless decreased from 35% to 32%. Furthermore, the percentage of high school students who seriously considered suicide decreased from 22% to 18%.
With regard to physical activity, 42% of high school students and 52% of middle school students reported engaging in at least one hour of physical activity five days a week, an eight-point difference between the groups.
“We saw physical activity increasing and mental health factors moving in the right direction, so we thought there couldn’t be a better time to make the most of this moment,” Spell said.
A policy amendment to require high school students to get 60 minutes of exercise per week was presented to the State Board of Education last month. Currently, the graduation requirement is only one semester of health and education. The amendment will be voted on at next month’s meeting.
Spell also said the implementation of school-based mental health policies and federal grants to increase the number of social workers and counselors had contributed to the improved outcomes.
“We are currently waiting on a response to our grant application for a school psychologist and are trying to get additional funding for recruitment,” Spell said.
According to Mental Health America, signs of loneliness in adolescents include:
- Staying confined to a room for long periods of time
- Talk to your parents more than usual
- He doesn’t seem to have any friends to hang out with outside of school.
- Talking negatively about yourself
“No matter what your situation is, you can always talk to someone,” says Theophilus Jones, a father and educator.
Jones is the founder of the Southeast Raleigh Panthers, a youth program that provides extracurricular activities and programs for more than 200 children.
“When that kid comes in he may be shy, withdrawn, insecure about his weight, and then by the middle to the end of the season you see him be one of the first kids to practice, one of the kids joking with the guys and laughing, it’s amazing to see that kid grow,” Jones said.
He supports further efforts to enhance physical activity, including opportunities to mentor students outside the classroom.
“We don’t call it a problem, we call it a challenge, and once we overcome a challenge, we can overcome any challenge we face,” Jones said.
Further findings from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey show that high school students are reporting decreased use of e-cigarette products, marijuana and alcohol, while cigarette smoking remains at an all-time low (4%).
Click here to watch “The Silent Struggle,” a mental health town hall talk hosted by ABC11 and featuring a guest panel of experts.
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