A local survey by the Forsyth County Department of Public Health reveals some concerning trends in the county's middle and high schools. But the county's school district is offering some solutions.
More than 3,000 students in grades 6th-12th completed the local Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted by the Forsyth County Department of Public Health.
The results show steady declines in cigarette, alcohol and drug use in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County school district. School officials say the positive trends are a result of more school programs and community involvement.
But the report raises some red flags.
“There has been an increase in the number of students who have carried a weapon, which includes a gun, knife or club and there is a seven percent increase among students who have been bullied on school property, so bullying has increased among our middle school students,” says Ayo Ademoyero, director of epidemiology at the Forsyth County Department of Public Health.
Data from the Forsyth County report also shows that more students are spending too much time on their electronic devices.
“Actually 39 percent of students watched or played video games for three hours on a school night when they are supposed to be doing their homework, and we found that Blacks and Hispanics were significantly higher than Whites and this impacts the academic achievement," says Ademoyero. "Students with higher grades are less likely to play video games or watch TV for three or more hours a day.”
Every other year, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) surveys high school and middle school students to gather information about teenage behavior. Overall, the 2013 results show fewer North Carolina teens are engaging in risky behavior. But one trend that is growing nationally and locally is texting while driving. In Forsyth County, the leading cause of death for students is motor vehicle injuries.
The second leading cause of death is suicide.
But a new program is being developed to address this growing problem. The school district is partnering with the National Board for Certified Counselors based in Greensboro to help teachers and staff members identify students that may be experiencing mental health problems.
Kenneth Simington, assistant superintendent of Instructional and Student services, says Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools will be the first district in the country to use the Mental Health Facilitation program.
He says the idea is to help identify at-risk students. “How do we help adults in the school be aware when there are students who may be in a place of depression, are feeling down, or do not act as they have been? It's not intended to make someone a clinician, psychologist or counselor, but what are the things that teachers should be aware of as we seek to impact the data that we have seen from the youth risk behavior survey?”
The mental health program will be implemented throughout the school system sometime next semester.
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