WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – Some Jefferson County legislators will get a closer look into the minds and struggles of children and teens throughout the county when they meet Tuesday evening.

From e-cigarette and marijuana use to mental health and social media, a local group is diving into the lives of nearly 5,000 students from 11 different districts across the county.

“It provides a snapshot of the state of mind of students in grades 7 through 12,” said Anita Seefried-Brown, project director of Alliance for Better Communities.

The Alliance for Better Communities’ 2023 Prevention Needs Assessment report covers topics like drug and alcohol use and, for the second year, behavioral health.

Questions include if the students have ever considered, planned, or attempted suicide.

Of those who answered, 1 in 6 students considered suicide.

One in 8 students planned suicide.

And 1 in 12 students attempted it. That’s lower than 2022′s 1 out of 11.4.

“Percentage-wise between last year and this year, it’s a 4.6 percent decrease,” said Seefried-Brown.

Seefried-Brown attributes the decrease to work in schools. Youth coalitions and access to mental health resources in the community have expanded in the last year. But the numbers aren’t where Seefried-Brown wants them to be.

“Just imagine what it would look like in Thompson Park. You have 4,033 students standing straight up, and then you count to 12. Every 12th student has to lie down. What would be the emotional impact if we would see that,” she said.

While e-cigarette and marijuana use has gone down slightly, Seefried-Brown says an emerging issue is social media usage in students. It was surveyed for the first time this year.

“Three to 4 hours, 5 to 6 hours, 6 hours and more. It makes you wonder when these kids eat, sleep, do homework,” said Seefried-Brown.

Seefried-Brown will present the full results from the survey before the Jefferson County Health and Human Services Committee Tuesday night.

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