2023 Darien Youth Survey Results: Key Takeaways

DARIEN, CT — Thriving Youth Darien's 2023 student survey results were released last week, and they shed light on mental health and substance use trends among students in town.

Thriving Youth Darien is a volunteer coalition that brings together local community organizations to promote and empower positive youth development and mental health, with the goal of reducing teen substance use.

Every two years, Thriving Youth partners with the school district and surveys Darien students about their mental health and substance use patterns. The first survey was conducted in 2008.

"Really the sole purpose of the survey is to gather information about these patterns so we can take a look at what the risk and protective factors are, and so that we can help convene as a community to have an organized response, and then also to inform any programming," said Georgette Harrison, who presented the results during an event at the Darien Library on Oct. 12.

Harrison is the director of clinical and community partnerships at the Child Guidance Center of Southern CT. She's also a licensed counselor and a former co-chair of Thriving Youth Darien.

In March of this year, 1,907 students in grades six through 12 were anonymously surveyed. There was a 79 percent response rate.

Parents were able to see the questions in the survey beforehand and could have their children opt out.

Key Takeaways

Mental Health

Approximately one in four high schoolers and one in five middle schoolers reported persistent sadness and hopelessness in the past year, the results said.

More than one in four high schoolers and one in five middle schoolers reported persistent anxiety in the past year, with 11th grade having the highest rate at 35 percent.

"We can hypothesize that much of that anxiety is caused by college entrance exams and trying to get in the right school and making these decisions that feel like they are essentially determining the rest of your life trajectory," Harrison said.

Additionally, 388 teens (18 percent MS, 23 percent HS) said they felt so sad and hopeless every day for two weeks or more in a row that they stopped doing their usual activities, Harrison noted.

Over 450 teens (20 percent MS, 28 percent HS) said they were so anxious every day for two weeks they stopped doing their usual activities, and 163 teens (8 percent MS, 10 percent HS) shared they had seriously considered suicide, with many of them actually making a plan, Harrison said.

"For a lot of people, you might think there is no way that these numbers are correct," Harrison said. "But make no mistake about it, we're really in the middle of a child mental health crisis."

The 2021 behavior survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Public Health showed 14 percent of Connecticut high schoolers considered suicide, and 10 percent attempted, Harrison said.

"Darien's rates don't approach the national or even the state average, but we can't turn away from the fact that there's a lot of work to be done to pull together as a community to support every teen who lives here," Harrison added.

Teens who identified as being part of the LGBTQ+ community, which made up 9 percent of respondents, reported significantly more risk factors, according to the results.

For example, 34 percent in the LGBTQ+ community said they were bullied at school, compared to 14 percent who don't identify with the community; 35 percent said they felt connected to peers compared to 66 percent; 68 percent said they felt safe at school compared to 87 percent; and 57 percent said they felt valued and appreciated compared to 86 percent.

Overall, males (47 percent of respondents) reported:

• Lower levels of sadness, anxiety and loneliness.
• Higher levels of self-image.
• More consequences of gaming.
• Higher rates of bullying someone.

Females (49 percent of respondents) reported:

• More sadness, anxiety and loneliness
• More restrictive eating, self-harm, suicidal ideation.
• Higher levels of stress.
• More positive and negative consequences due to social media.
• More commitments, like clubs and community service.

Four percent of respondents identified as nonbinary, not sure, something else, or preferred not to answer.

"Don't be afraid to ask your teen if they're depressed or so sad that it's hard to function, and if they want to talk to someone. Don't leave them alone with those feelings, and trust your instinct as a parent," Harrison said.

Substance Use

According to the survey results, alcohol use over the past 30 days increased significantly between eighth and ninth grade, and then again during senior year.

The results show 1 percent of eighth graders reported alcohol use in the past 30 days, compared to 11 percent in ninth grade.

In 11th grade, 24 percent reported use, compared to 50 percent in 12th grade.

There have been some good news and positive changes related to drinking norms since 2018, according to the results.

The percentage of teens who thought underage drinking was OK decreased from 40 percent to 30 percent, while the perception of peer disapproval has increased significantly from 62 percent to 82 percent, the results show.

The perception of parent disapproval has increased from 86 percent to 92 percent.

High School marijuana, vaping nicotine and prescription drug use reported in the last 30 days have all decreased compared to 2018.

Notably, 18.1 percent reported vaping nicotine in 2018, and 2.7 percent reported in 2023, according to the results.

Darien teens are nine times more likely to drink on weekends if they don't believe their parents disapprove of them drinking.

"Talk to your kids about substance use, because they're listening. Set those rules early on, and let them know it's not a one-and-done conversation. Double down on those conversations as they get older," Harrison said.

Following the results presentation, there was a panelist discussion that featured Rebecca Campbell, director of therapy services at Sasco River Center; Dr. Alycia Dadd, director of mental health for Darien Public Schools; and John Hamilton, president and chief executive officer of Liberation Programs.

To view the entire survey results presentation and the panelist discussion, click here.

The full survey results can be found here.