The survey monitors behaviors of high school students that are related to the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among youth and adults in the United States. Because of the high student and school response rates, the results of this survey can be generalized to apply to public high school students across the state of Massachusetts. The largest increases occurred among White students and male students. This represents approximately 24,500 students across the state who reported attempting suicide last year.
Attempted suicide is highest among females and younger high school students.
These observations emphasize the need to provide comprehensive health education to all students at all grade levels, before they initiate high risk behaviors for the first time. Substance use and violent behaviors continue to occur on school property. Risk behaviors are not as prevalent on school property as off school property, but the results suggest that students continue to engage in risk behaviors on school grounds. Although it is not clear from the data whether or not these behaviors are occurring during school hours, any risk behaviors occurring on school property demand concern from school staff and stricter enforcement of school policies around tobacco use, substance use, and violence. The majority of Massachusetts youth are in some way at risk for health problems due to their behaviors.