Recently announced survey data from Evanston Township High School found that both the number of students marked at risk for suicide and the severity of their risk for suicide decreased in the 2022-2023 school year.
Mia Lavizzo, associate principal of student services, attributed the decrease to the school’s mental health intervention groups.
Lavizzo presented the information, among other updates on student well-being, at the June 10 District 202 Board of Education meeting with Dondelayo White, director of student support services, and Sarah Long, director of student services.
“We know how important students’ well-being is,” said board President Pat Savage-Williams. “If they aren’t emotionally stable, they aren’t going to benefit from all the great academic resources we have here.”
Mental health improvements
Mental health statistics continue to improve at ETHS since the school reached record lows immediately following the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in the fall of 2021, school data shows.
The number of students marked at high risk of suicide dropped by 10% from 2021-2022 to 2022-2023, according to the district’s wellness report. A total of 153 students were identified as at risk in 2021-2022, with 37 marked at high risk. These numbers dropped to 138 and 20 in 2022-2023, respectively.
Hospitalizations also decreased from the 2021-2022 school year, when a total of 179 students were hospitalized. During the 2022-2023 school year, the number dropped to 127 students, although 32 students experienced multiple hospitalizations.
The number of social work referrals also continues to decline. When a student shows signs they may need support, teachers and staff can submit a referral to a social worker. Students can also refer themselves.
These referrals went down from 342 in 2022 to 315 in 2023. Social work referrals hit their peak in 2020 at 477, the data shows.
Lavizzo highlighted the importance of the school’s targeted support groups in these successes.
“They’ve been very instrumental in reducing social work referrals, improving social and coping skills, and it improves academic performance,” Lavizzo said.
These groups will be further expanded in coming years to continue to better meet targeted student needs, she said. The team continues to record information about these groups and better identify what can be adjusted beyond group support, including in curriculum, to better support students.
Breakdown of referral statistics
“Black or African-American students consistently lead in referral numbers,” the report states. “Hispanic or Latino students also demonstrate relatively high referral counts.”
The report outlines that these referral numbers indicate more support might be needed for those demographic groups. Numbers of white students who receive referrals also show that “challenges are not confined to specific ethnic groups.”
Students referred to social services were also more likely to come from low-income backgrounds, indicated by their free or reduced lunch status.
Academic well-being and preparedness
Students enrolled in college in the year following graduation from ETHS fell in 2022-2023 across all groups except Hispanic or Latino students, according to the report.
“Some students are deciding to go to the military. Some students are deciding to go into a trade,” said Lavizzo. “We’re looking to see how we can be more robust in supporting those initiatives.”
The number of students receiving academic support through 504 plans also continues to increase, and staff noted the high number of cases that are managed.
There were 651 active plans at the end of the 2022-2023 year, up from 599 in 2021-2023. According to White, this number reached even higher points during the school year. Some of these students left the school or were removed, some cases were closed, and some students transitioned from 504 plans to individual development plans.
With these high numbers of cases, White explained it can be difficult for just two case managers to meet with and support all students.
“The goal is to touch base with all students throughout the school year,” White said. “There are some students that have more needs than others.”
ETHS: Student mental health keeps improving post-pandemic is from Evanston RoundTable, Evanston's most trusted source for unbiased, in-depth journalism.