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Subject:\[EXTERNAL\] Survey: Lack of sleep, mental health, screen time are some of the top
challenges faced by Utah youth
Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and are expecting the message.
10-06-2023
(P.R.D.D.C.)
PARENTS FOR THE RIGHTS OF DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED CHILDREN
CRAIG A. DURFEY FOUNDER OF P.R.D.D.C.
SOCIALEMOTIONALPAWS.COM
FACEBOOK:
U.S. HOUSE OF CONGRESS H2404 - HONORING CRAIG DURFEY FOR HIS FIGHT AGAINST AUTISM
... Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2003-03-27/pdf/CREC-2003-03-27.pdf
new website socialemotionalpaws.org
To whom it may concern.
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Survey: Lack of sleep, mental health,
screen time are some of the top
challenges faced by Utah youth.
ST. GEORGE — Building supportive and protective environments at home, school
and in communities are proven ways Utah youth can be protected from harmful
outcomes, according to results of the 2023 Student Health and Risk Prevention
survey.
Stock photo. | Photo by
SeventyFour/iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News
The SHARP survey is voluntary and both parents and students must give consent
to participate. Nearly 52,000 Utah students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12 participated
in the 2023 survey, which has been conducted every other year for the last 20
years.
“The intersection of sleep, mental health, and screen time is a critical issue
parents need to be aware of,” said Carol Ruddell with the DHHS Office of
Substance Use and Mental Health in a news release. ”When kids aren’t getting
the sleep their bodies and brains need, they are at a greater risk of not only
mental health problems but academic struggles too. Increased screen time can
lead to social isolation which can also make mental health problems worse.”
Survey says …?
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Notable data involving screen time, sleep and family meals revealed the
following:
There was a strong relationship between screen time and lack of
sleep, thoughts of suicide and substance use.
Only 38.4% of youth got eight or more hours of sleep on an average
school night.
More youth are spending time on their electronic devices than ever.
Nearly 80% (79.8%) of youth spend two or more hours per school day
playing Xbox, PlayStation, texting, or time on YouTube, Instagram,
Facebook, etc. (not counting school work).
Having regular family meals can help prevent suicidal thoughts and
substance use. In a typical week, 56.5% of youth eat at least one meal
with their family 5 or more times. This is a slight drop from 60.9% in
2021.
Click here to view results from the Southwest District, which includes
Washington, Iron, Beaver and Garfield counties.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox speaks to
students at Desert Hills High School, St. George, Utah, April 4, 2023 | Photo by
Chris Reed, St. George News
“The SHARP survey is the most comprehensive source of information on the
challenges and opportunities our youth face—because the information comes
from youth themselves,” said Gov. Spencer J. Cox in a Department of Health and
Human Services news release. “Good data helps us identify risks and develop
policies and interventions that help all Utah families and youth feel supported,
safe, and able to thrive. We appreciate having parents and school districts
actively involved in this survey.”
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Data from the SHARP survey has been used to:
Educate parents about the harms of social media on youth.
Expand access to mental health services and resources.
Create the Parents Empowered campaign which encourages parents
to talk to their children about the dangers of underage drinking.
Create the Know Your Script Campaign which empowers Utahns to
make smart decisions and ask the right questions regarding
prescription drug use.
Develop the SafeUT mobile app and Live On suicide prevention
campaign.
Create a program that pairs kids struggling with school with the Foster
Grandparents Program in a local community to help build connections
and resilience.
Pass legislation that restricts the places where flavored vaping
products that appeal to children can be sold.
Mental health and suicide
42.7% of youth who felt sad, hopeless or suicidal did not talk to
anyone about it, even though the majority of youth felt it was OK to
get professional help if needed.
17.6% of youth seriously considered attempting suicide. It’s important
to note that youth have the lowest rates of suicide among all ages.
Youth are resilient and can overcome mental health struggles with the
right support, treatment, and resources.
Healthy relationships and connections in the school, home and
community are important protective factors and supports for youth.
Using a combined score for four different social isolation questions,
about 21.6% of students in grades 8, 10 and 12 felt lonely and isolated
often. This is a significant increase from the 2019 survey, but a slight
improvement from the 2021 survey.
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Vaping stock image | Photo by
licsiren/iStock/Getty Images Plus, St. George News
Substance use (alcohol, vaping, cigarettes, marijuana, drugs)
Alcohol use continues to decline, with only 3.4% of students reporting
they’d used alcohol in the last 30 days.
While youth are still experimenting with alcohol, more older students
are choosing to regularly use marijuana.
Utah youth are far less likely to misuse prescription drugs compared
to adults. Only 1.5% of students said they had taken a prescription
drug without a doctor telling them to take it.
7.4% of students in grades 8, 10 and 12 used vape products that
contained either nicotine or marijuana or both. About 45% of youth
who vape use both nicotine and marijuana in their vapes. Of those who
don’t vape both substances, about two-thirds vape nicotine and one-
third vape marijuana only.
“Vaping continues to be a concern. Evidence both nationally and in Utah suggests
students are beginning to vape THC/marijuana in addition to nicotine. Both
substances are harmful for the developing adolescent brain and can lead to
lifelong addiction issues. The SHARP survey will continue to be a valuable tool for
understanding this emerging threat to the health and well-being of Utah youth,”
said Braden Ainsworth with the DHHS Tobacco Prevention and Control Program.
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Teen on cell phone, unspecified
location and date | Photo courtesy of Highwaystarz Getty Images Plus, St. George
News
Safety and bullying
Feeling connected to and involved in school is an important protective
factor for youth. The majority of students feel there are chances to get
involved with school activities, talk with a teacher one-on-one, and be
part of classroom discussions or activities.
84.9% of students feel safe at school. However, 41.6% of students
worry about gun violence or an active shooter at school.
26.6% of youth said they were somewhat or very worried about getting
bullied and 27.2% said they were threatened or harassed via the
internet, e-mail, or cell phone.
“We know parents make the best decisions for their children if they have the
information they need,” said Heidi Dutson with the DHHS Office of Substance Use
and Mental Health. “Parents need to know what types of things are happening in
their child’s school and in their community. The SHARP survey helps parents
know what to talk about, so they can help their child navigate adolescence. The
knowledge we’ve gained from the SHARP survey is invaluable— because it tells
us where to look for problems—and solutions.”
Click here to access SHARP data. In the coming weeks, the 2023 data will also
be available to query on the Indicator-Based Information System for Public Health
or IBIS-PH website (under the “Utah Prevention Needs Assessment” or “Youth
Risk Behavior Survey” data query tab).
Survey: Lack of sleep, mental health, screen time are some of the top challenges faced
by Utah youth – Cedar City News (cedarcityutah.com)
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