With high levels of stress wedging their way into students’ lives over the last 20 months, a pair of messages on the state COVID-19 Student Survey results document encourages communities to continue collaborating on a prevention plan and watching for signs of distress.

Locally, there’s a host of support programs like Mercer Island Youth and Family Services (YFS) school-based counselors, the Healthy Youth Initiative, middle- and high-school groups like the Student Group on Race Relations, Sources of Strength and Quilt Bag for LGBTQ+, the young adult BeReal Program and loads more.

These programs were brought to light alongside the survey results at the Mercer Island Healthy Youth Forum, a virtual gathering that took place on Nov. 8.

Dr. Jason Kilmer, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington, shared key findings from the survey, and the 52 community participants — ranging from students to school district administrators — engaged in small group discussions mainly focusing on identifying community priorities in supporting Island youth.

Kilmer gave a nod of approval to Islanders for their constant wave of support to the younger set.

“Research shows that youth who feel safe and valued in their community are positively impacted, including experiencing increases in hope, sense of purpose, and future expectations,” Kilmer said. “Mercer Island is a community that clearly values kids and others in the community, and that investment of energy, resources, time, and actions really matters.”

Some of the topics put under the lens in the survey were if students worried about becoming sick with COVID, being alone or lonely during the pandemic, falling behind in schooling or learning and more. Since the Mercer Island School District had already initiated a student survey during COVID, local students didn’t take part in the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction survey for sixth-through-12th-graders featured at the forum.

Tambi Cork, YFS administrator, said that the state-level data that Kilmer shared along with hearing students’ experiences at the forum are a poignant reminder that the pandemic has profoundly impacted people’s mental health.

“There is tremendous work to do as we move into this next phase of the pandemic, and I am grateful to have so many engaged community members, students and school district and city leaders involved in efforts to learn about and prioritize youth well-being on the Island,” she said.

Added Derek Franklin, YFS Clinical Programs manager: “The importance of a coordinated community effort to support youth rebuilding their social, familial and educational norms after COVID is critical. Youth hearing that ‘the community hears you and has your back’ is a profoundly helpful message.”

During Kilmer’s presentation on the survey results, he noted that sixth-graders had the highest percentage of 28.1 regarding being worried about getting COVID; high school juniors and seniors were the highest at 40.5% and 40.6%, respectively, about feeling alone or lonely; and high school sophomores and juniors were the highest at 55.4% and 55.7%, respectively, about being worried about falling behind in their schooling or learning.

In another segment of the survey, sixth-graders topped the percentage marks at 70.5 on whether they would talk to a peer who was doing something unsafe with regard to COVID; sixth-graders also registered the highest mark of 69.5% while noting that they would talk to an adult or teacher about the situation.

On the local student front, Mercer Island High School junior Libby Myer set the foundation for the evening by sharing “The River Story,” which tells of children in distress barreling down the river and people rescuing them one by one. As the chaotic situation continues, one person leaves the group to the others’ dismay and walks upstream to search for the root of the problem.

‘“The River Story’ reminds us that prevention is crucial in supporting youth and our community,” Myer said. “Nobody wants to get to the point where they’re drowning in anxiety or depression. Instead, they would rather be given the tools and support to prevent ever reaching that state. Tonight we are here as students, parents, educators, health providers and community leaders who can positively contribute to these prevention efforts.”

Michelle Ritter, Healthy Youth Initiative coordinator, added: “We believe that each and every person in our community can make a positive impact on the well-being of our youth. For students, it might be by being a friend who lends an ear to a classmate, a parent who provides guidance, support and understanding, a healthcare provider that tends to our kids’ physical health or as leaders and educators who are positive role models and create policies to support our youth.”