Shaker survey of risky behavior finds economy a factor in student's depression

BELMONT — Going through adolescence during this time of economic uncertainty is significantly adding to the anxiety of many of today's teenagers, and that reality is showing up in latest Youth Risk Behavior Survey, according to guidance officials in the Shaker Regional School District.

One finding in that survey taken among students at Belmont High School showed that 29-percent of the students felt so hopeless or depressed for two or more weeks within that past year that it affected their ability to carry on with normal daily activities.

"The economy and the recession have made it a perfect storm," said Jennifer Gagnon, who regularly deals with at-risk students at Belmont High and Middle schools in her capacity as the district's students assistance program provider.

Brenda Seiferth, the Shaker District's guidance director, agrees. "In the past kids were only generally aware of their parents' financial situation. (But now) kids are really worried. Maybe they have lost their home or someone has lost a job," she said.

For Gagnon and Seiferth this development is troubling because feelings of hopelessness and depression can increase the likelihood of these young people contemplating suicide.

The finding regarding hopelessness/depression is one of three particularly troubling results of the statewide Risk Behavior Survey conducted in 2011, the results of which were reported to the Shaker School Board recently.

The other areas of special concern are the use of prescription drugs, and the incidence of bullying.

Seiferth and Gagnon say that wherever the survey shows that Belmont High students score 5-percent higher or greater than the state or county average in any of the at-risk categories the school district's goal is to respond with some initiative to address the issue.

That is particularly true in the area of suicide prevention. Though no Belmont High students has committed suicide, Seiferth points out, it is important to have programs and procedures in place to assist students who may be going through a difficult point in their lives.

Grant funds have been used to provide training for school staff members on ways to recognize behaviors which often point to profound sadness by a student and then get that student to a counselor who can offer assistance. The second part of the program has been to develop procedures to follow if ever there is a sudden death of a student, so the other students can get help they need to better cope with the tragedy.

The staff members who participated in the training workshops have since shared what they learned with other teachers and school staff members in an effort to make them better able to deal with problems proactively, Gagnon said.

Another recent initiative was to bring in a motivational speaker to speak to students and parents about constructive ways young people can experience the kind of exhilaration that they so often crave and in the quest of which for some leads to risky behavior.

But while Seiferth said that though the survey is conducted among students and administered by the school, the public has to realize that the problems it brings to light are not really school problems.

"This is not a school issue. This is a community issue. We are reporting on a community issue," she said.

That is why this summer the school will use the results of the latest survey to enlist the involvement of various community resources, such as police departments, faith leaders, and counseling services.

In addition, the results of the survey will soon be posted on the Shaker District's web site and portions of the survey will also be mailed to parents with their child's spring term report card.

While Seiferth and Gagnon say that the findings that 29-percent of student report being terribly hopeless or depressed, that 38-percent reported being bullied on school grounds, or that 25-percent had reported abusing prescription drugs are serious concerns, they said the survey also shows an important hopeful sign: More students are now acknowledging that such activity is harmful.

"In order to get kids to change you have to change attitudes. And this shows that attitudes are changing. Our task is to do what we can to help them see that they need to change their behavior, too" said Gagnon.

The survey showed a drop in some categories of at-risk behavior, including alcohol use and, high-risk sexual activity, and sexual activity by those 12 years of age or younger.

But in this time when students are under greater stress, Seiferth and Gagnon are worried that there is so little in the way of community services to help those young people.

Last month alone, Gagnon said that she dealt with 45 Belmont High students who were particularly susceptible to some form of at-risk behavior.

"We do not have the community resources to deal with kids with alcohol or drug abuse," said Gagnon. "There is no in-patient treatment unless it is court-ordered. And private insurance won't cover that kind of treatment, so therefore parents usually can't afford it."

But regardless of the shortage of community services Seiferth said there is one service which troubled students or their parents can turn to: the National Suicide Prevention hotline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

Going forward Seiferth said the school district plans to enlarge its advisory program so that one adult school worker has regular contact with 10 or 11 students on a regular basis so that the troubling behavior may be spotted before it can develop into something more serious, and potentially injurious.

Also the district is applying for grant funds that would allow it to hire two more counselors to work with at-risk students.