Every three years since 2008, the Thriving Youth Task Force, Darien’s local prevention coalition convened by the Community Fund of Darien, has partnered with Darien Public Schools to anonymously survey Darien 7-12th grade students about their mental health and substance use trends and their knowledge and attitudes about risky behaviors.
The data collected from the most recent survey, administered last February, will be used to inform community and school efforts to promote the development of Darien youth into healthy, resilient adults and to reduce at-risk behaviors. This year’s survey results will be shared with the community at a special presentation on Wednesday, October 20th at 7pm in the Middlesex Middle School auditorium.
The event will also be live streamed via Zoom and is free and open to the public; anyone interested in learning more about the most concerning issues facing our local youth is welcome to attend. Registration is requested for in-person attendance and required for Zoom at www.communityfunddarien.org/tytf-programs-and-events.
Georgette Harrison, Licensed Professional Counselor and Director of Community and Clinical Partnerships at Child Guidance Center of Southern CT, and Dr. Mitch Dickey, licensed psychologist and former Yale research scientist, will present the survey results. A discussion with panelists including Dr. Scott McCarthy, Program Director of Special Education and Student Services for Darien Public Schools and Tracey Masella, LCSW in affiliation with Silver Hill Hospital, will follow the presentation.
This year’s combined survey included questions about peers, family, stress, mental health and drug and alcohol use to get a better understanding of different groups of students and the core, common and crucial issues they share. Mitch Dickey, a licensed psychologist with a PhD in Psychology from Yale University, applied predictive analyses on the 2,027 student responses to determine the drivers of student-reported feelings of sadness, anxiety, loneliness and depression, as well as their substance use patterns. The conclusions shared at the October 20th presentation will offer parents and the community a clear understanding of these drivers and will highlight the actionable ways parents can intervene to make a difference.
“Our student survey data reveals that parents are our greatest underutilized asset to reduce teen substance use and influence their children’s good mental health,” noted Emily Larkin, Thriving Youth Program Director. “The Thriving Youth Task Force will offer free events and programs throughout the year based on the survey findings to address these issues and how parents can best support their children.”
“The administration of the student survey through the community partnership with the Thriving Youth Task Force serves as an important tool for our schools in understanding some of the social and emotional challenges facing our students,” added Dr. Alan Addley, Darien Superintendent of Schools. “These survey findings will help inform our continued efforts to provide a safe, healthy and positive environment and learning experiences for all of our students.”
The student survey was made possible thanks to grant funding from Connecticut's Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to address substance use prevention and mental health promotion in Darien.