Measuring gender identity: issues for surveillance

Presented at: 1st Annual Conference on Care for the Underserved, UNM School of Medicine Rural and Urban Underserved Program; October 14, 2016; Albuquerque, NM.https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/prc-posters-presentations/1032/thumbnail.jp

New Mexico Youth Risk & Resiliency Survey: High School Survey Results 2011

Results of the 2011 New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey (YRRS), a collaborative project of the New Mexico Departments of Health and Public Education, reveal a decrease in the rates of several important health risk behaviors among the state’s public high school students. The prevalence of suicide attempts, cigarette smoking, binge drinking, and physical fighting have decreased significantly in recent years. At the same time, New Mexico has seen an upward trend in the rate of students who are obese. Caring and supportive relationships between high school students and their parents or guardians, teachers, peers, and adults in their communities continue to be strongly associated with lower rates of alcohol, drug, or tobacco use, violent acts, and suicide attempts

New Mexico Youth Risk & Resiliency 2013 Survey Results Report: Tobacco Use and Related Behaviors

Te negative effects of tobacco use are well documented: cigarette smoking has been linked to cancer, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The earlier a person initiates smoking, the greater their risk for long-term health problems and nicotine addiction. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 1 in 5 high school students currently uses some form of tobacco. NM-YRRS measures tobacco use, attitudes, and behaviors among New Mexico students in grades 6–12

New Mexico Youth Risk & Resiliency 2013 Survey Results Report: Mental Health and Related Behaviors

Mental health is an integral part of student well-being. It is essential to youth for maintaining healthy relationships, supporting academic achievement, and living full and productive lives. NM youth 10–19 years of age experience a higher rate of death by suicide than those in the US (9.8 vs. 4.8 deaths per 100,000 population). The 2013 Youth Risk & Resiliency Survey (YRRS) questionnaire included three questions in the middle school survey and four questions in the high school survey about suicide ideation and attempts. The high school survey also included a question about feelings of sadness or hopelessness (a risk factor for depression) and a question about non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI)

New Mexico Youth Risk & Resiliency 2013 Survey Results Report: Alcohol Use and Related Behaviors

Alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug among youth in the United States, more so than tobacco or illicit drugs. Youth who start drinking before age 15 are five times more likely to develop alcohol dependence or abuse later in life than those who begin drinking at or afer age 21 years. Binge drinking accounts for about 90% of the alcohol consumed by youth under the age of 21 in the United States. The NM-YRRS includes questions about alcohol use, access, attitudes and behaviors

New Mexico Youth Risk & Resiliency 2015 Survey Results Report: Tobacco Use and Related Behaviors

Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable disease in the US. Tobacco use and nicotine addiction typically begin during adolescence and young adulthood, and nicotine exposure during adolescence can lead to addiction, may harm brain development, and could lead to sustained tobacco use among youths. The New Mexico Youth Risk & Resiliency Survey includes questions about tobacco use and other risk behaviors as well as protective (resiliency) factors that can help reduce these risk behaviors

New Mexico Youth Risk & Resiliency 2015 Survey Results Report: Housing Instability and Health

In 2015, for the first time, the NM-YRRS questionnaire included a question on homelessness, or housing status. The question mirrored the homelessness definition of the McKinney-Vento Act, which is used by the New Mexico Public Education Department to identify homeless students. For the purposes of this report, students identified as homeless will be referred to as students in unstable housing. Students living in unstable housing were at significantly increased risk for facing violence, using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, suicidal behaviors and other mental health issues and other serious challenges

What’s new in the YRRS? A look at new questionnaire items with a focus on sexual minority status.

Presented at: 2015 Annual Conference of the New Mexico Public Health Association; March 31-April 1, 2015; Albuquerque, NM.https://digitalrepository.unm.edu/prc-posters-presentations/1039/thumbnail.jp

New Mexico Youth Risk & Resiliency 2015 Survey Results Report: Drug Use and Related Behaviors.

New Mexico Youth Risk & Resiliency 2015 Survey Results Report: Drug Use and Related Behaviors. Epidemiology and Response Division, New Mexico Department of Health, School and Family Support Bureau, New Mexico Public Education Department, and the University of New Mexico Prevention Research Center

New Mexico Youth Risk & Resiliency 2015 Survey Results Report: Alcohol Use and Related Behaviors.

Alcohol is the most commonly used and abused drug by youth in the United States. Youth who drink alcohol before age 15 are six times more likely to develop alcohol dependence or abuse later in life than those who begin drinking at age 21 or older. Binge drinking (5 or more drinks on a single occasion) accounts for about 90% of the alcohol consumed by youth 12–20 years of age in the United States. The New Mexico Youth Risk & Resiliency Survey (NM-YRRS) includes questions about alcohol use, access, attitudes, and behaviors as well as protective (resiliency) factors that can help reduce these risky behaviors