Editor’s note: If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.
WEST FARGO — A student survey given across the nation every two years that attempts to gauge the prevalence of issues such as bullying, depression or suicidal thoughts shows West Fargo schools are roughly on par with the state and national averages, but officials say there is still work to do, and the data will prove useful as they plan future programming.
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey is designed to monitor behaviors of students in grades seven through 12 that can lead to poor mental health. Conducted under the oversight of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention every two years, the survey is voluntary for students, and answers are kept anonymous.
The survey asks a wide range of questions and addresses a vast array of subjects to gather data on students’ use of alcohol, drugs and cigarettes. The survey also drills down to collect data such as how often students consume sugary drinks, exercise, or if they are sexually active and use birth control.
Results of the 2023 survey were recently released to the West Fargo School Board, and while most of the survey results show the district is improving or aligns with state and national averages, West Fargo officials closely examined mental health issues that students may face, such as bullying and thoughts of suicide.
West Fargo Superintendent Beth Slette said the district has long used the survey as a means to evaluate student behaviors and determine if additional programming focused on behavioral wellness is needed within the district.
“West Fargo schools use the YRBS (Youth Risk Behavior Survey) as one of several measures to monitor learner health, safety and well-being,” Slette said. “The findings help support the district’s wellness goal by guiding initiatives and policies that foster safe, compassionate learning environments.”
According to the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, suicide is among the top 10 causes of death in the state.
The 2023 survey found 23.8% of junior high students in North Dakota said they considered suicide during the past year. In West Fargo, 27.8% of Cheney Middle School students and 22.1% of Liberty Middle School students said the same.
At the high school level, 17.5% of students in North Dakota said they seriously considered suicide, while 15% said the same at Sheyenne High School. At West Fargo High School, 14.9% students reported the same, while 11.6% of students reported considering suicide at Horace High School.
The number of students across the state who reported attempting suicide at least once has been decreasing in recent years. According to the state, the percentage of students who attempted suicide once or more in the past year decreased from a 10-year high of 13.5% in 2017 to 7.4% in 2023.
The survey also examines the prevalence of bullying in schools. In 2023, across North Dakota, 42.1% of junior high students reported being bullied in the past year, an increase from 2021 when 38.7% of students reported bullying.
In West Fargo, 42.8% Cheney Middle School students and 37.8% of Liberty Middle School students reported being bullied. Those numbers were up from 2021, when 26% of Cheney Middle School students and 30.8% of Liberty Middle School students reported bullying.
At the high school level, 20.7% North Dakota students reported being bullied, up from 15.8% in 2021.
In West Fargo, 14.6% of Sheyenne High School students, 15.3% of students at West Fargo High School, and 19.2% at Horace High School reported bullying in the 2023 survey.
In the 2021 survey, 10.7% of West Fargo High School students, 8.9% of Sheyenne High School students and 10.3% of Horace High School students reported instances of bullying.
While reports of bullying may have increased in West Fargo, officials said a positive sign for the district is the high percentage of students who said they have at least one trusted adult they can talk to in the school buildings.
About 83% of students in junior high and high school reported having a trusted adult in the school system. The West Fargo averages were considerably higher than the state average, where only 68.1% of students reported they have a trusted adult in the school system.
Annie Richards, director of behavioral health and wellness at West Fargo Public Schools, said the district uses the survey data to assess social-emotional functioning.
West Fargo schools has focused on behavioral health and wellness support for several years.
In January 2023, West Fargo Public Schools became the first district in the state to establish a
Department of Behavioral Health and Wellness
a $12 million grant from the Department of Education.
The West Fargo school district employs approximately 40 counselors, 14 social workers and eight social-emotional behavior interventionists, as well as school psychologists, to support children within the district.