The recently released 2024 Youth Risk Behavior Survey contains vital information about our children’s well-being, yet a significant gap exists in our community’s dialogue. While recent coverage highlighted one high-risk group, it overlooked another — specifically, the increased risk factors affecting certain non-white racial and ethnic groups among our students.
Given our community’s ongoing challenges with METCO program leadership stability, this oversight is particularly concerning. The survey reveals critical findings about high-risk students of certain racial and ethnic groups that deserve equal consideration in our community’s response to youth mental health challenges.
As Concordians, we have a collective responsibility to understand and address the needs of all our children within our community. It starts with clarifying what is happening for our students and what is being done to support those at the most significant risk.
I urge The Concord Bridge to review the complete survey findings and provide our community with comprehensive coverage that reflects the experiences and needs of our students, in keeping with the mission to connect all Concordians with local news that is important to them. I cannot think of a more important matter than our children’s mental health, especially those most at risk.
Mental health matters. Full stop. Understanding the experiences of all students, especially those from racial and ethnic groups at higher risk, is crucial for meaningful action.
Rachel Krompinger
Main Street
