2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows Alaska youth struggle with poor mental health, electronic bullying, and not enough physical activity

Results from a 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) Alaska survey of almost 1,200 high school students statewide tell a story about Alaska’s high school students-a mix of struggles and success when it comes to adolescent health and well-being. Essentially, the results conclude that too many high school students are struggling with mental health and not getting enough physical activity. At the same time, fewer teens have ever used marijuana or currently smoke.

These results come from the recently analyzed 2023 YRBS. This survey reports findings from Alaska high school students who had parental permission to answer questions anonymously and voluntarily about many health and social behaviors.

For years, this survey has helped Alaska parents, educators and public health programs better meet the needs of youth and their families. It is given to high school students across the United States, the YRBS was not given in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District (MSBSD) after concerns were raised over the lengthy survey, specifically questions regarding sexual violence, specifically asking about being forced into sexual activities of kissing, touching, or being physically forced to have intercourse.

The Alaska version of the YRBS had also eliminated two questions on the National YRBS survey related to gender identity and identification.

The 2023 YRBS showed levels of suicidal thoughts remain persistently high for high school students. Since 2011, there has been a significant increase in the percentage of adolescents who seriously considered (23% in 2023), made a plan for (21% in 2023), or attempted suicide (19% in 2023), or who felt sad or hopeless for a significant time in the past 12 months (43% in 2023).

During this time period, there was also a significant increase in the percentage of adolescents who were bullied electronically (15% in 2011 to 20% in 2023). Although regular physical activity can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression, fewer than one in five (18%) adolescents got the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day in 2023.

“My heart breaks for our young Alaskans who are struggling and for families across the state” said Lindsey Kato, Director of the Alaska Division of Public Health. “These statistics reinforce the continued work that is needed to support our children and families to improve community connectedness, economic stability, and access to quality health services; the need for public health and public safety to work side by side our violence prevention work, so that Alaskans can focus on things like physical activity, education, and nutrition. We know that all of this is connected, we know that these results are felt in our communities and seen in the state’s increased rates of overdose and high rates of suicide.”

The survey also reported an alarming statistic that more than one in 10 (11% in 2023) youth report having slept away from their parents' or guardians' homes because they were kicked out, ran away, were abandoned, or felt unsafe in their home during the past 12 months. And less than half (45% in 2023) say they have three or more adults besides their parents they would feel comfortable seeking help from if needed.

The recent YRBS survey revealed concerns related to increased sugary drink consumption and unhealthy body weight, both of which can impact health into adulthood. The survey showed a significant decline in high school students living at a healthy weight (72% in 2011 to 64% in 2023) and an increase in these students drinking a sugary drink every day (45% in 2011 to 53% in 2023). One sugary drink often has more sugar than youth should have in one day.

The percentage of adolescents who ever used marijuana decreased significantly from 38% in 2019 to 33% in 2023. In 2023, the percentage of adolescents who had misused prescription pain medication in the past 30 days was 6%. This was not significantly different from the percentage reported during the past several years. Both cigarette smoking (7% in 2023) and secondhand smoke exposure (25% in 2023) among adolescents are down significantly from their 2011 levels.

The Alaska Department of Health Tobacco Prevention and Control Program (TPC) staff are encouraged by some of the recent YRBS findings related to e-cigarettes, according to program manager Christy Knight. There has been a significant increase in the percentage of adolescents who see great harm in using vaping products, from 27% in 2019 to 42% in 2023. Current vaping decreased from its 2019 peak of 26% to 17% in 2023, but there is still cause for concern.

“Although the percentage of adolescents who vaped at all in the past month has declined in recent years, it’s very concerning that one out of six adolescents currently use this form of nicotine and daily use has nearly tripled,” Knight said. Daily e-cigarette use increased from 2% in 2011 to 6% in 2023. Alaska’s TPC program continues to run its Not Buying It campaign to educate youth statewide about the health harms and addiction related to tobacco and e-cigarette use. Alaska parents and educators can find information and free resources online to support adolescents who use tobacco or nicotine products.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed the YRBS, which is conducted every other year nationally and in most states, including Alaska. The survey helps school districts and schools, communities understand and meet the needs of Alaska teens. These groups use YRBS data to develop school health policies and programs, promote health, prevent disease and write grants. The information gleaned from the survey is also utilized by state agencies and related groups and non-profits, such as the Tobacco Prevention & Control for Alaska Family Services and the Mat-Su Opioid Task Force.

The information is also forwarded to other agencies to develop health education, sexual health awareness and sexual violence courses, behavioral health programs, suicide, and other outreach programs.