Survey: One-Third of 8th- to 12th-Graders Report Depression in Fairfax County

Depression among Fairfax County students is at 32.2 percent, a 4 percent increase from 2009 to 2010, a new survey shows.

The 2010-2011 Fairfax County Youth Survey shows Fairfax County students are feeling more depressed and bullied, but are experimenting less with drugs and alcohol than in previous years.

For the survey question about depression, students were asked: "During the past 12 months, did you ever feel so sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks or more in a row that you stopped doing some usual activities?"

The survey looks at factors that contribute to depression, such as alcohol and drug use, teen sex, bullying (both bullying and being bullied), and examines the support systems teens have in place at home, at school and in the community that help prevent depression.

Of the 44,000 students in grades 12, 10, 8 and 6 who took the survey (representing 86 percent of the student body in those grades):

• 32.2 percent reported experiencing depression in the 2010-2011 school year compared to 28.2 percent the previous year. (8th-, 10th- and 12th-graders)
• 22.5 percent of sixth-graders reported experiencing depression. 
• Correlation in the data shows that students who got more than eight hours of sleep a night and who exercised more often report experiencing less depression.
• Correlation in the data also shows demographics reporting depression more often were: 12th-graders (35.3 percent), Hispanics (40.8 percent) and female students (36.5 percent).
• 54 percent overall reported being bullied in 2010-11, compared to 50.8 percent in 2009
• Alcohol use saw a decrease from 23.5 percent to 21.1 percent; same with cigarette smoking (9.2 percent to 6.8 percent) and marijuana use (11.6 percent to 10.3 percent) 

In response to the survey results, the county has launched The Prevention Toolkit, said Marcus Allen, countywide prevention coordinator. The toolkit is a collection of suggestions, tools and resources to assist families, school staff, PTAs, community and faith-based organizers, social clubs and others to promote the well-being of youth in Fairfax County.

"In most of the areas, we’re doing better than the national averages, but it's still not good enough for us," said Allen.

"The purpose is to bring people together and plan on how we’re going to work as a system to prevent some of the things we’re concerned about," Allen said. "We recognize that government can’t do it all...in order to be successful, we have to work with the community. The toolkit is designed to empower people without needing too much assistance."

The kit helps tackle five issues:

1. Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs
2. Bullying and Cyberbullying
3. Depression
4. Nutrition and Physical Activity
5. Teen Dating Abuse

The Prevention Toolkit is divided into three areas:

1. Support — Answers to frequently asked questions and step-by-step guidance to hosting a community event around the Youth Survey or a selected topic.

2. Presentations, Handouts and Resources — In-depth looks at results for selected Youth Survey topics, including fact sheets and videos in several languages. Links to more information and where to go for help. Youth Survey topics include alcohol, tobacco and other drugs; bullying and cyberbullying; mental health-depression and suicide; nutrition and physical activity; and teen dating abuse.

3. Take Action — Ideas on how to make a difference in the lives of youth in your community. 

"The toolkit empowers groups to take action, the goal is to empower them to take action around a specific topic," Allen said. "There's a section on ideas for neighborhood and family prevention activities and another where you can learn about the drugs commonly used."

"There are ideas for things that parents should do in their own home or learn how to utilize school counselors as a resource," Allen said. "If you don't have a youth group, start one, so you can have some discussions with kids and surround them with positive role models."

One of the results of the 2010-2011 survey shows Fairfax County students do not have enough "community adults" to talk to; of the 12th-graders surveyed, 34 percent reported having "community adults" to talk to. 

Fairfax County plans a series of local meetings across the county to discuss the survey findings and discuss the toolkit in-depth. Upcoming meetings: 

 Falls Church: Monday, Dec. 5, 7-8:30 p.m., Region 2 James Lee Community Center Theatre, 2855-A Annandale Rd.

Fairfax: Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, 10 a.m. to noon, Region 4 Mott Community Center, 12111 Braddock Rd.

Hybla Valley: Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2012, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Region 1 Gum Springs Community Center, 8100 Fordson Rd.