Wallingford Youth Risk Behavior Survey
2025 High School Student Health and Safety Data Analysis
by Wallingford Public Schools
Contents
01. Substance Use Trends
02. Mental Health & Safety
03. Sexual Health & Relationships
04. Support Services
Analysis of alcohol, marijuana, vaping, and other substance use patterns among high school students
Depression, suicidal ideation, and student safety behaviors including driving and bullying
Data on sexual activity, dating violence, and harassment among students
Available resources and interventions for student health and wellness
Survey Methodology & Participation
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) was developed by the CDC to monitor youth health behavior. Wallingford's survey includes modifications from state and district levels and was administered using a browser-based platform in classroom settings.
Survey Component
High School
Middle School
Total Students Surveyed
940 students
Low participation
Participation Rate
57% of student population
Opt-in format
Data Validity
Statistically valid
Cannot be analyzed with validity
Confidence Interval
±1.5 percentage points
Not applicable
Past 30-Day Substance Use Trends
Key Findings
All substance use categories show significant decreases from 2023 to 2025, indicating positive trends in student health behaviors and prevention efforts.
Alcohol use decreased by 34% (12.1% to 8.0%)
Marijuana use declined by 28% (8.2% to 5.9%)
Vaping reduced by 23% (8.0% to 6.2%)
Binge drinking dropped by 41% (5.1% to 3.0%)
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Sexual Activity by Grade Level
Grade 9-10 Trends
Grade 11-12 Trends
Significant decreases in 9th grade (21% reduction) and slight decreases in 10th grade
Minimal change in 11th grade, 20% decrease in 12th grade activity
Mental Health & Depression Indicators
Felt Sad or Hopeless
Hurt Self on Purpose
Considered Suicide
Asked for Help
Depression Prevalence
Suicide Prevention
Self-Harm Behaviors
23%
8.8%
8.8%
1.2%
Nearly 1 in 4 students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past 12 months
Represents significant mental health concern
Requires ongoing support and intervention
Indicates continued need for enhanced counseling services
Critical need for early intervention and support systems for students experiencing suicidal thoughts
8.8% considered suicide - immediate intervention needed
Only 1.2% sought help before attempt
Gap in help-seeking behavior identified
Self-injury behaviors indicate underlying emotional distress requiring professional mental health support
8.8% engaged in self-harm behaviors
Strong correlation with depression indicators
Opportunity for early intervention programs
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Social Media Usage Patterns
Overall Increase
Grade Consistency
Slight upward trend in social media usage across all grade levels from 2023 to 2025
Relatively consistent usage patterns across different grade levels, ranging from 42-46%
Driving Safety Behaviors
Comparison of safe driving practices among Wallingford high school students shows mixed results with some improvements and concerning trends in technology-related distractions.
Behavior
High School 2023
High School 2025
12th Grade 2023
12th Grade 2025
Always/Mostly Wear Seatbelt
91%
92.4%
93%
92.8%
Rode with Drinking Driver
9%
8.8%
10%
7.8%
Drove After Drinking
1%
0.9%
3%
2.2%
Used Phone While Driving
15%
15.2%
38%
42.1%
Text/Email While Driving
12%
11.1%
30%
30.1%
Bullying & Harassment Trends
Key Changes
Mixed results in bullying trends with significant improvements in sexuality-based harassment and slight decreases in school property bullying.
School property bullying decreased 1.9% from 16.6% to 14.7%
Cyberbullying decreased slightly from 13.4% to 12.1%
Appearance-based name-calling reduced from 24.7% to 21.3%
Sexuality-based harassment dramatically decreased from 32.6% to 8.5%
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Dating Violence & Sexual Harassment
Prevalence of abusive behaviors in dating relationships and sexual violence among Wallingford high school students shows a decrease in concerning behaviors with a continued need for education.
Type of Abuse
2023 Prevalence
2025 Prevalence
Change
Dating Partner - Verbal
13.7%
10.8%
-21% decrease
Dating Partner - Physical
3.0%
2.0%
-33% decrease
Dating Partner - Sexual
7.4%
5.4%
-27% decrease
Forced to Have Intercourse
4.7%
4.2%
-11% decrease
Student Health Trends Analysis
Positive Trends
Areas of Concern
Prevention Opportunities
Implementation Threats
Significant decreases in substance use, dating violence, and sexuality-based bullying indicate effective prevention programs
High social media usage, and persistent mental health issues require attention
Expand mental health services, continue anti-bullying programs, and strengthen technology safety education
Student help-seeking barriers, and external social influences may impact program effectiveness
10-Year Trend Analysis
01. Long-term Substance Use Trends
02. Mental Health Evolution
03. Technology & Social Media Impact
04. Safety Behavior Changes
Examining alcohol, tobacco, and drug use patterns over the past decade
Tracking depression, suicide ideation, and self-harm behaviors over 10 years
Analyzing the rise of social media and device usage among students
Long-term trends in bullying, violence, and safety-related behaviors
Alcohol Use: 10-Year Declining Trend
Significant Long-term Improvement
Dramatic 72% reduction in alcohol use over the past decade demonstrates effectiveness of prevention programs and changing youth culture.
2015: 28.5% of students reported past 30-day use
2025: Only 8.0% report recent alcohol use
Consistent year-over-year decreases since 2015
Represents one of the most successful prevention outcomes
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Tobacco & Vaping: Complex 10-Year Pattern
Cigarette Success Story
Vaping Challenge
Traditional cigarette smoking has declined 95% from 15.2% to 0.8% over the decade
E-cigarette use peaked in 2021 but shows recent decline from 22.1% to 6.2%
Marijuana Use: Stable Long-term Pattern
Moderate Decline Over Decade
Marijuana use has shown steady decline over 10 years with significant acceleration in recent years, likely influenced by legalization discussions and prevention efforts.
2015-2021: Gradual decline from 21.8% to 16.2%
2021-2025: Accelerated decrease to 5.9%
Overall: 73% reduction over the decade
Recent years: show most dramatic improvements
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Mental Health Trends: Rising Concern
Depression Concerns
Suicide Ideation
Persistent feelings of sadness increased from 18% to 23%, peaking during pandemic years
Suicidal thoughts peaked in 2021 but show encouraging decline to 8.8% in 2025
Social Media & Technology: Explosive Growth
Dramatic Decade Transformation
Social media usage among students has more than doubled since 2015, fundamentally changing youth communication and social dynamics.
2015: 22% reported daily social media use
2021: Peak of 52.7% during pandemic isolation
2025: Stabilized at 44.3% - still double 2015 levels
Represents fundamental shift in youth social interaction
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Bullying Trends: Shifting Patterns
2015-2021 Success
2023-2025 Concern
Consistent drop between 2015 to 2023.
A dramatic reversal with a 56% increase in 2023. Reduction from 16.6% to 14.7%, however remains high.
Driving Safety: 10-Year Technology Impact
Evolution of driving safety behaviors shows concerning trends in technology-related distractions while traditional safety measures remain stable.
Behavior
2015
2020
2023
2025
10-Year Trend
Always Wear Seatbelt
89%
90%
91%
92%
↗️ Steady improvement
Drove After Drinking
2.8%
1.9%
1.0%
0.9%
↘️ Significant decline
Used Phone While Driving
8%
22%
15%
15%
↗️️ Tech emergence then stable
Texted While Driving
5%
18%
12%
11%
↗️️ Peaked then declined
Key 10-Year Achievements & Challenges
Alcohol Use Reduction
Cigarette Smoking Decline
Depression Increase
Social Media Growth
Prevention Success Stories
Emerging Mental Health Crisis
Complex Behavioral Shifts
72%
95%
+26%
+101%
Evidence-based prevention programs have achieved remarkable reductions in substance use over the decade
Alcohol use: 28.5% to 8.0% (72% reduction)
Cigarette smoking: 15.2% to 0.8% (95% reduction)
Marijuana use: 21.8% to 5.9% (73% reduction)
Mental health indicators show concerning increases requiring enhanced intervention and support services
Depression: 18% to 23% (26% increase)
Social media use doubled from 22% to 44%
School bullying resurged post-pandemic
Student behaviors reflect broader societal changes including technology integration and post-pandemic adjustments
Technology-related driving distractions emerged
Traditional bullying decreased then resurged
Help-seeking behaviors remain consistently low
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10-Year Trend Analysis Summary
Major Successes
Emerging Challenges
Future Opportunities
Ongoing Threats
Alcohol and tobacco use dramatically reduced, traditional safety behaviors improved, dating violence decreased
Mental health concerns increased, technology addiction emerged, school bullying resurged post-pandemic
Leverage technology for prevention, expand mental health services, strengthen community partnerships
Social media influence, post-pandemic social changes, resource limitations, help-seeking barriers
Recommendations for Continued Improvement
Data-Driven Interventions
Community Engagement
Utilize survey data to target specific areas of concern and measure program effectiveness over time
Expand mental health screening and early intervention programs
Enhance anti-bullying initiatives focusing on school property incidents
Develop technology safety education addressing phone use while driving
Strengthen partnerships with families, community organizations, and healthcare providers
Increase awareness of available support services among students and families
Promote help-seeking behaviors and reduce stigma around mental health
Expand prevention programming in middle school to build early protective factors
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Comprehensive Student Support Framework
School-Based Interventions
Community Partnerships
Prevention & Education
In-school counseling, trauma groups, and prevention programs integrated into daily school environment
Behavioral health providers, substance abuse counselors, and family services working collaboratively
Evidence-based programs addressing substance use, mental health, violence prevention, and healthy relationships
Suicide Prevention & Intervention Programs
Prevention Initiatives
SOS Training
Columbia Screener
QPR Training
GIZMO Program
Prevention Grant
Comprehensive suicide prevention programs including training, screening, and intervention protocols
Signs of Suicide prevention training for students and staff
Evidence-based suicide risk assessment tool
Question, Persuade, Refer suicide prevention training
Peer support and mental health awareness initiative
Federal funding supporting comprehensive suicide prevention efforts
Available Support Services
Mental Health Support
Substance Abuse Counseling
Trauma Intervention Programs
Community Partnerships
Connecticut Behavioral Health counselors provide in-school mental health support for students lacking access to outside services
Community Guidance Clinic offers drug and alcohol counseling specifically for high school students. Wallingford Youth and Family Services drug and alcohol counseling and prevention
Bounce Back and CBITs groups address trauma in school settings for affected students. District trauma specialist to assist families and students in need.
Collaboration with Wallingford Youth and Family Services and Wallingford Coalition for comprehensive support.
"
The data tells a story of progress and persistent challenges. While we celebrate improvements in substance use and dating violence, we must intensify our efforts around mental health support and creating safer school environments."
— Wallingford Public Schools Pupil Personnel Services
This comprehensive analysis of student health behaviors provides the foundation for evidence-based interventions and targeted support services. The survey results demonstrate the critical importance of continued investment in student wellness programs and community partnerships to ensure every student has the support they need to thrive.
Thank You For Your Attention
Questions and discussion are welcome as we work together to support student health and wellness in Wallingford Public Schools.