WATERBURY, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont health officials say one-third of students in the state continue to report struggling with mental health issues.
New data from the Vermont Department of Health 2023 Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey Although progress has been made in terms of drug, alcohol and tobacco use, mental health challenges such as stress, anxiety and depression remain high.
Students are reporting self-harm and making suicide plans at the same rate as during the pandemic. They say this is of particular concern for female and LGBTQ+ students, who have significantly higher reporting rates than other students.
“Consistent with national trends, we see Vermont’s young people grappling with deep-seated feelings of hopelessness and isolation in far more pronounced ways than their peers did a decade ago.” said Kelly Dougherty, deputy director of the Department of Health. statement. “We, as adults, have a responsibility to believe what students are telling us about their feelings and to respond to this growing crisis with the urgency it deserves.”
First-time students were also asked about their use of social media. They found that 80% of high school students and 60% of middle school students check social media at least several times a day.
Vermont is suing companies like Meth and TikTok for violating consumer protection laws by hooking young people on products that have been shown to have negative effects on teens’ mental health. It is one of many states.
Copyright 2024 WCAX. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.
