What are Island Youth Saying?

Many Island youth are struggling. How do we know this? Based on the 2014 Healthy Youth Survey, we know our children have many positive experiences and relationships that enrich their lives. Yet data and feedback from students compel us to improve conditions that help all children thrive.

Data from a variety of student sources, tell us that:

  • Depressive symptoms are increasing and anxiety is common.
  • Substance abuse is an ongoing issue.

Here are some broad details:

  • 25% of Bainbridge High School (BHS) seniors reported having depressive feelings lasting at least 2 weeks that interfered with some usual activities.

(Compared to 20% in 2012 and 17% in 2010)

  • 72% of Bainbridge high school (BHS) seniors report feeling bothered by: feeling nervous, anxious or on edge several days to nearly every day in the last two weeks.

(No prior data available.)

  • 14 % of BHS seniors have made a plan about how they would attempt suicide. Compared with 13% in 2012 and 8% in 2010.
  • 57% of BHS seniors have consumed alcohol this month

(Compared with 51% in 2012 and 48% in 2010)

When speaking of mental distress:

  • 3% of BHS seniors reported having attempted suicide one time in the last 12 months.

(Compared with 4% in 2012 and 2% in 2010.) This translates to 11 seniors.

  • 23% of BHS seniors reported feeling bothered by: feeling nervous, anxious or on edge more than half the days to nearly every day in the last two weeks. (No prior data available.)
  • 57% of BHS seniors reported being bothered by not being able to stop or control worrying several days to nearly every day in the last two weeks.

(No prior data available.)

When surveyed on substance abuse:

  • 26% of BHS seniors reported having five or more drinks in a row in the last two weeks on at least on one occasion.

(Compared to 33% in 2012 and 26% in 2010.)

  • 48% of BHS seniors reported having used marijuana in their lifetime (Compared to 31% in 2012 and45% in 2010.)
  • 31% of BHS Seniors reported using an illegal drug in the past 30 days (Compared to 31% in 2012 and 30% in 2010.)
  • 22% of BHS seniors reported having used electronic cigarettes in the past 30 days

(Compare to 24% in 2012)

When questioned about bullying or abuse:

  • 22% of BHS seniors reported that an adult has ever physically hurt them on purpose- being pushed, slapped, hit, kicked or punched.(Compared to 18% in 2012 and 18% in 2010)
  • 18% of BHS seniors reported ever being in a situation where someone made them engage in kissing, sexual touch or intercourse when they did not want to. (No prior data available.)
  • 14% of BHS seniors reported that in the last 30 days someone has used the computer or a cell phone to bully, harass, or intimidate them. (Compared to in 10% 2012 and 9% in 2010)

When asked about quality of life:

The following Youth Quality of Life data is a composite score computed from answers to five questions:

  • I feel I am getting along with my parents or guardians.
  • I look forward to the future.
  • I feel good about myself.
  • I am satisfied with the way my life is now.
  • I feel alone in my life.

Youth Quality of Life

  • 18% of BHS seniors were calculated to have low quality of life; 32% medium-low quality of life.

(Compared to 18% low quality of life and 23% medium-low quality of life in 2012 and

17% low and 24% medium-low quality of life in 2010)

  • 24% of BHS sophomores calculated to have low quality of life; 28% medium low.

When asked for their candid feedback:

Beyond quantitative data, Bainbridge High School Students provided feedback in 2014 and 2015 on some of the challenges of growing up on Bainbridge Island:

  • “The pressure to succeed crushes me.” “Four years of constant pressure has had a negative effect on me, like depression.” “It drives kids to extreme perfectionism or the opposite-they stop caring because they can’t meet the standards of the community.” “There is a culture of competitiveness that permeates sports, school and above all, the college search process.” “I have made it my goal to maintain my 4.0 and have thus far succeeded and still don’t feel like I am good enough.” “Grades have become more of a priority than my health.” “With everything we do as a student outside the classroom, we are judged for our grades and scores. I hate being defined as a number!”
  • A focus on material wealth: Too many “comparisons based on family money.” “The financial expectations of students and families are harmful. When someone says they can’t afford something, people don’t understand and try to argue or stare in disbelief.”

Teens shared what they want adults to know:

  • “Put more emphasis on learning rather than getting good grades.”
  • “We need balance in our lives to be well-rounded people.”
  • “We aren’t all rich and affluent and we feel awful when we are expected to be able to do what the well-off kids can do.” “Help us break the stereotype of snobby, rich kids.”

Bainbridge High School graduates reflected:

  • “There is a great pressure for kids to conform rather than to seek out what makes them happy or be true to themselves. Alcohol and drugs are the things to do at BHS.”
  • “Put more emphasis on preparing kids for life, rather than just preparing them for college.”

Through four Bainbridge Healthy Youth Summit meetings and surveys, youth asked for the following:

  • To have their voices to be heard – to be part of our community.
  • To help them find their passions and realize their unique potential.
  • To be celebrated for who they are, not just what they achieve.
  • To engage in authentic conversations with adults and peers- normalizing that all of us have times when we fail and struggle.

What we know about the challenges of young people who grow up here is not surprising. Scholar and researcher, SuniyaLuthar, PhD., suggests that youth in upper middle class communities with well-educated parent populations similar to Bainbridge Island counter intuitively are at higher risk for substance abuse, anxiety and depression than other communities. Only through working together, can we foster positive change.