Highlighting new and noteworthy data from kidsdata.org
The Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health | May 5, 2010
 

Just Added: Depression-Related Data for School Districts Statewide

Depression is linked to lower academic achievement, exacerbation of chronic illness, stress, and suicidal behavior. In a statewide survey administered between 2006 to 2008, about 30 percent of California youth reported depression-related feelings. In recognition of Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, kidsdata.org is releasing the most recently available statewide data on this key measure of emotional well being: depression-related feelings in youth.

These data come from the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS), a statewide survey of students that was developed and is administered by WestEd for the California Department of Education. The survey asks youth across grades 7, 9, and 11 whether in the past 12 months they had felt "so sad and hopeless every day for two weeks or more that they stopped doing some usual activities.” Responses are available by county, school district, race/ethnicity, grade level, gender, and level of school connectedness.

View the New Data on Depression-Related Feelings

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Key Facts

  • According to 2006-2008 data, about 3 in 10 California youth in grades 7, 9, and 11 expressed feelings of depression, with girls more likely than boys to report such feelings.
  • Students with weak levels of school connectedness were nearly twice as likely as those with strong levels to report feelings of depression.
  • Across all racial/ethnic groups, Pacific Islanders and Native American students were most likely to report feelings of depression, while Asian Americans and Caucasians were least likely.

Use These Data in Your Work

Kidsdata.org is a public service that expanded in fall 2009 from the Bay Area to all cities, counties, and school districts in California. You can use these data, as well as related measures of emotional and behavioral health, in reports, presentations, proposals, advocacy work, program planning and other efforts. Data on more topics will be phased in over the next several weeks.

Help Spread the Word

Kidsdata.org is designed to benefit everyone working on behalf of children and youth in California. To help others learn about this valuable resource, you can:

  • Forward this note to your colleagues and friends.
  • Help raise the profile of children in your community by adding a link and facts from kidsdata.org to your organization's website or newsletter. You even can link directly to data for your community.

Also Available from Kidsdata.org

Kidsdata.org is a program of the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health, which uses data to promote the health and well being of children.

 


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