TEENS ARE IN CRISIS
Our young people in McLean County are struggling mentally and emotionally. Anxiety and stress disrupt their academic progress and cause unbearable emotional strain. Results from the 2018 Illinois Youth Survey revealed the following eye-opening data:
- Over 300 students (14%) reported seriously considering suicide
- Over 1,000 students surveyed (roughly 1/3) reported feeling significant sadness or depression every day for 2 or more weeks, that they stopped doing normal activities
- Over 400 youth received mental health services
- 150 teenagers were hospitalized last year for a mental health issue
These discouraging findings led United Way of McLean County to the launch of an innovative solution for youth mental health called ThriveMind.
What is the Illinois Youth Survey?
The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) has funded the administration of the Illinois Youth Survey (IYS) biennially since 1990. The IYS is a self-report survey administered in school settings and is designed to gather information about a variety of health and social indicators including substance use and perceptions, bullying, school climate, nutrition, and physical activity.