By DAN TOMASELLO

LYNNFIELD — Students’ mental health issues and increased alcohol use were the two biggest areas of concern identified in the Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

Jon Snow, Inc. Senior Consultant/Project Director Alec McKinney presented the Youth Risk Behavior Survey’s results during the School Committee’s Feb. 1 meeting. He said the anonymous survey was administered to students in seventh through 12th grade last fall. The survey included questions about mental health, substance use, unintentional injury and violence, sexual behavior, nutrition and physical activity, and organized activities.

“The Lynnfield Youth Risk Behavior Survey asked standardized questions that align with the CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Youth Health Survey,” said McKinney.

Substance Use Prevention Coordinator Peg Sallade recalled that the survey was also administered to students in 2014, 2017 and 2019.

Mental health

McKinney said the COVID pandemic has “certainly had a dramatic effect” on youth’s mental health. He noted that over one-third of Lynnfield High School students and a quarter of Lynnfield Middle School students reported experiencing mental health struggles throughout the pandemic.

“Multi-racial students were more likely to report that they struggled with their mental health,” said McKinney. “Genderqueer students were significantly more likely to report that they struggled with their mental health.”

McKinney said students reported feeling happier and less isolated during the 2021-2022 academic year compared to the 2020-2021 school year.

“Sixty-two percent of high school students reported feeling isolated in 2020-2021 and 10 percent reported feeling isolated in 2021-2022,” said McKinney. “Thirty-nine percent of middle school students reported feeling isolated last year compared to 9 percent this year. Bringing kids back to school has created a much better environment for kids.”

In addition to the pandemic, McKinney said the survey’s data revealed “school-related issues were the most common cause of stress for high school and middle school students.”

“The greatest reported source of stress in school was keeping up with schoolwork,” said McKinney. “Thirty-two percent of high school students and 31 percent of middle school students reported school demands and their busy schedules were the root cause of stress.”

McKinney said 31 percent of high school students and 16 percent of middle school students reported suffering from depression. He said 13 percent of high school students reported contemplating suicide, 10 percent made a plan and 4 percent attempted suicide. He said 9 percent of middle school students reported contemplating suicide, 9 percent made a plan and 3 percent attempted suicide.

“Genderqueer students were more likely to report experiencing depression or suicidal thoughts compared to male and female students,” said McKinney.

McKinney also noted that most students identified a parent or adult family member they could turn to for emotional support.

Substance use

McKinney said alcohol is the most common substance being used by high school students.

“Over half of high school students reported having drank alcohol in their lifetime,” said McKinney. “Alcohol use is a more substantial issue in Lynnfield compared to other communities.”

McKinney noted that 31 percent of high school students reported they currently drink alcohol. The survey revealed that 7 percent of freshmen, 28 percent of sophomores, 41 percent of juniors and 52 percent of seniors reported they are currently drinking alcohol.

“Alcohol was perceived as the easiest substance to access,” said McKinney.

School Committee Vice Chairwoman Stacy Dahlstedt expressed concerns about the number of students who reported drinking alcohol.

“The alcohol numbers are very concerning,” said Dahlstedt.

Sallade said the number of students who reported drinking alcohol is higher than national averages included in the Monitoring the Future Survey that gets published by the University of Michigan. She said A Healthy Lynnfield will be looking to implement programs in order to raise awareness about the dangers associated with underage drinking.

Superintendent Kristen Vogel noted that a number of adults started drinking more during the pandemic because alcohol is used as a coping mechanism.

“I think children are turning to alcohol because it’s acceptable,” said Vogel. “During the pandemic, many adults turned to alcohol as a way to deal with the isolation and the pain. Children do what adults do, and I think that is playing into the increase of alcohol use.”

School Committee Chairman Rich Sjoberg said he was concerned about the number of students who reported participating in binge drinking. The survey revealed 22 percent of juniors and 31 percent of seniors reported engaging in binge drinking.

McKinney said 16 percent of high school students reported using electronic vapor products, 15 percent used marijuana, 5 percent smoked cigarettes and 3 percent used prescription drugs.

“High school and middle school students perceived using non-prescribed medication as the most risky and marijuana as the least risky,” said McKinney

Unintentional injury and violence

McKinney said 11 percent of high school students “reported experiencing sexual violence in the past 12 months.”

“Lower percentages of students reported being forced to do sexual things and experience physical violence by someone they were dating,” said McKinney.

McKinney said 24 percent of middle school students and 13 percent of high school students reported being bullied on school grounds.

“Multi-racial and genderqueer high school students were more likely to report experiencing bullying on school property in the past 12 months,” said McKinney. “Similarly, multi-racial middle school students were more likely to report experiencing bullying on school property.”

McKinney said 21 percent of middle school students and 15 percent of high school students experienced cyberbullying. He said white and genderqueer high school students were “more likely to report cyberbullying in the past 12 months.”

“Multi-racial and genderqueer middle school students were more likely to report cyberbullying,” said McKinney.

Sexual behavior

McKinney said the survey’s results revealed that 23 percent of high school students and one percent of middle school students reported having sex.

Out of the 23 percent of high school students who reported having sex, McKinney said 67 percent of those students reported using a condom the last time they had sex.

Nutrition/activities

McKinney said 57 percent of high school students and 61 percent of middle school students “reported that they are about the right weight.”

“Sixty-five percent of high school students and 72 percent of middle school students reported that they were physically active for 60 minutes for five out of the past seven days,” said McKinney.

McKinney said over half of the high school and middle school students who responded to the survey “reported that in a typical week they participated in organized activities on five days or more.”

“Black high school students and multi-racial middle school students were more likely to report no participation in organized activities,” said McKinney. “Genderqueer high school and middle school students were more likely to report no participation in organized activities.”

School Committeeman Phil McQueen said Black, multi-racial and genderqueer students are less likely to participate in activities if they are being bullied.

“If students are less likely to participate in activities, their mental health is going to be worse off,” said McQueen. “That is an area we need to work on. We need everyone to feel included.”