Results of student survey in Washoe County stir concern

RENO -- A new survey shows an increase in the number of Washoe County students who have attempted suicide, either once or multiple times, district administrators said.

In 2007, 13.6 percent of high school students said they attempted suicide, up from 8.6 percent in 2001.

The questions about suicide were among those asked in the district's 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. The results are based on a survey of 1,355 middle school students and 1,289 high school students in Washoe County.

The survey also reported increased percentages in:

• Middle school students who said they don't feel safe at school.

• Students who said they probably or definitely won't complete a post-high school program.

• High school students who have had sexual intercourse before the age of 15.

But there were positive findings as well.

The number of students who reported ever having had sexual intercourse fell, as did those who reported using alcohol, tobacco or other drugs, school officials said.

"If there's any one item that's of concern, it's the results on suicide," school district spokesman Steve Mulvenon said.

"These kids don't just exist in the school world. They are members of the community, and they bring to school the problems that exist in the community."

Nevada's overall suicide rate is 19.2 per 100,000 as compared to the national rate of 10.9 per 100,000, making the state second in the nation only to Alaska in per capita suicides. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for Nevada youths ages 10 to 24, according to the Nevada Office of Suicide Prevention.

The percentage of middle school students who reported that they did not attend school in the past 30 days because they felt unsafe at school or to and from school nearly doubled in the past two years, from 7.2 percent in 2005 to 14.1 percent in 2007. Nevada's overall average was 10.7 percent.

"Certainly, you don't want any students to feel unsafe," Superintendent Paul Dugan said. "So that's a concern."

The increased percentage of students who have no post-high school plans also is a concern for the school district. The percentage of students who reported they probably or definitely won't complete a post-high school program increased from 9.5 percent in 2001 to 11 percent in 2007. Nevada's overall average is 9.7 percent.

"It's distressing that trend line seems to be going upward," Mulvenon said.

"One message that we've consistently given to students is the demands in the job place are such that every student is going to need some kind of post-high school training or education."