The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention released its 2023 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey data, with some encouraging trends.

Data collected in the spring of 2023 show that 16 percent of Maine high school students reported vaping at least once in the previous 30 days, down from a high of 29 percent in 2019, the report said.

The percentage of students who said they had ever used an e-vapor product also declined, from 45 percent in 2019 to 30 percent in 2023.

The trends reflect efforts at the national, state, and local levels to educate youth about the dangers of vaping and to restrict youth access to addicting e-vapor products, the CDC said, in a news release. The Maine CDC’s statewide “Don’t Get Sucked In” online and social media campaign launched in 2019 to provide teens with facts about vaping, as well as free, confidential, non-judgmental support to prevent, reduce, or quit use of vape products.

The 2023 MIYHS results also show an increase in students who report connections to caring adults at school and in the community.

This year, 77 percent of high schoolers indicated they have at least one teacher who cares and supports them, up from 73 percent in 2021. The number of students reporting support from adults other than their parents was also up by 7 percent from 2021 results, with 2023 data showing 54 percent of students feeling that support. 

According to the latest MIYHS data, mental health struggles remain a significant challenge for Maine youth. Over one-third of high school students reported feeling sad or hopeless for two or more weeks in a row, such that they stopped participating in some usual activities in the last year; 33 percent of middle school students indicated that they had experienced such episodes of sadness and hopelessness in their lifetime.

“This data is an important tool to help us gauge whether Maine youth are feeling supported by the adults in their lives, and gives us a measurable sense of  how they perceive and engage with potentially risky, unhealthy behaviors,” said Director of the Maine CDC, Dr. Puthiery Va, in the release.“Crucially, these survey results also help guide our work with partners in schools and communities to provide education and resources to Maine’s middle and high schoolers to make healthy decisions and feel supported as they navigate the turbulent pre-teen and teen years.” 

The MIYHS survey is a collaboration between the Maine CDC and the Maine Department of Education, conducted biennially since 2009.

Its purpose is to identify emerging trends facing youth by quantifying the health and related behaviors and attitudes of 5th through 12th graders using direct student surveys tailored to each age group. All public middle and high schools in Maine are invited to participate in the survey, which is administered during the spring of odd-numbered years.

To find out more about MIYHS and view more 2023 results, please visit https://www.maine.gov/miyhs

Resources for Youth

• NAMI Maine’s Teen Text Support Line is a free, confidential resource for youth from 13-23 years of age availably daily from 2pm-10pmEST. Staffed by trained support specialists 18-24 years old. Text Us at (207) 515-8398. For tips and information, visit https://namimaine.org/teentextline/

• If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The 988 Lifeline responds 24 hours a day, seven days a week to calls, chats or texts from anyone who needs support for suicidal, mental health, and/or substance use crisis, and connects those in need with trained crisis counselors. Individuals can also dial 988 if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.

• The Trevor Project’s mission is to end suicide among LGBTQ young people. The Trevor Project provides LGBTQ youth with 24/7 crisis counseling via phone, text, and chat. Call (866) 488-7386 or text “START” to 678-678. Learn more at The Trevor Project and find resources for parents and teachers.