The Washington State Healthy Youth Survey is typically given every other year to students in 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th grade. It is optional and responses are anonymous. Questions cover topics such as exercise, diet, drug use, mental health, and safety.

Results provide insights into healthy and unhealthy behaviors or trends among young people. The information is used by school and health officials as well as parents and policymakers to focus resources and interventions.

2021 Healthy Youth Survey

The survey was most recently given to students in fall of 2021. More than 15,000 students around Snohomish County participated in the survey. Their responses show existing good habits to build upon, as well as some areas of concern.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Reports of substance use are much lower than recent years among grades 8, 10, and 12, including fewer reports of smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, and using marijuana or hashish in the previous 30 days, as well as fewer reports of binge drinking in the previous 2 weeks. 
• Smaller proportions of students’ living arrangements were due to their family’s inability to afford housing compared with previous years. 
• Fewer students report their family needing to cut meal size or skip meals due to lack of money for food. 
• Fewer students report engaging in any physical fight in the previous 12 months compared with previous years. 

Concerns

• More students are spending 3 or more hours per day watching television, streaming videos, or on a computer playing video games or for something that isn’t related to schoolwork, especially among grades 6 and 8. 
• About the same proportion of students as in past surveys are reporting suicidal ideation, with a slight increase in depression over previous years. 
• Students in grade 6 are more likely than the other grades to report extreme worry about COVID-related economic security, including their parents or guardians losing jobs, family being unable to afford rent or housing, or not having enough food to eat. 

More detailed information is available in the topical fact sheets below.

For statewide results, visit the Healthy Youth Survey website.