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District presents MIHAS data showing drops in self‑reported bullying and suicidal ideation; alcohol use remains above state average
Summary
District staff presented MIHAS survey results showing declines in reported bullying, persistent sadness and students seriously considering suicide since 2023, while high‑school alcohol use remains significantly higher than the state average; board discussed sharing data with families and targeting middle‑school supports.
District staff presented results from the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey (MIHAS) at the April 2 MSAD 51 school board meeting, reporting improvements in several mental‑health indicators but noting persistent concerns in substance access and help‑seeking.
Eric Brown, the district’s risk‑assessment mental‑health specialist, said middle‑school results showed a drop in students reporting feeling bullied on school property from 44% in 2023 to 40.6% in 2025 and that the share of students who had seriously considered suicide fell from 20.8% to 11.9%. “In 2025 it had gone down quite a bit. So I was absolutely thrilled to see that trend,” Brown said…
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