Understanding the needs and behaviors of youth is crucial in crafting policies and programs that support their growth and development. In Ohio and nationally, the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) /Youth Tobacco Survey (YTS) serve as tools for gaining insights into the lives of Ohio's young population. Scale Strategic Solutions, in collaboration with Strategic Research Group and the Ohio Department of Health, is working with randomly selected schools to engage youth in the 2023 YRBS/YTS Study. These surveys provide data that inform the creation of statewide policies, programs, and initiatives aimed at better supporting the needs of Ohio's youth.

Data for Informed Decision-Making

One of the strengths of the YRBS/YTS in Ohio is its ability to provide a comprehensive view of youth behaviors. These reports are organized by topic, and the data are further broken down by demographic factors such as sex, grade, race, and ethnicity. This granularity enables researchers, policymakers, and advocates to pinpoint which groups are more at risk for certain health behaviors across the state.

For instance, the data reveal that in Ohio, significantly more high school females (31.7%) than males (12.3%) reported seriously considering a suicide attempt in the 12 months preceding the survey administered in 2021.  As we highlighted suicide prevention in September, this insight is helpful when tailoring suicide prevention initiatives or educational programs to address the specific needs of youth.

National Comparisons for a Broader Perspective

The beauty of YRBS/YTS is that it's not limited to Ohio. This survey is conducted nationally, and this means that we can compare Ohio's data to that of the entire United States. The CDC’s Youth Online data analysis tool makes these comparisons easy. Data comparisons may be retrieved at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm.

For example, Ohio had a higher percentage of students who reported being bullied on school property than the national average in the 2021 survey. It is through these comparisons that Ohio can identify areas where the state may redouble its efforts to ensure youth health and safety.

Trends Over Time

The YRBS/YTS is administered every two years. If enough selected schools agree to participate in the study, Ohio can have the trend data it needs to inform policy. Between 2011 and 2013, the percentage of high school students who reported feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for 2 or more weeks went from 27.1% to 25.85. However, between 2019-2021 the percentages went from 33% to 42.6% Data are not available for 2015 and 2017 for a contiguous trend over time. Ohio hopes not to interrupt the availability of data in the future because of lack of school and youth participation.



The Youth Risk Behavior Survey and Youth Tobacco Survey offer a rich view of the healthy and unhealthy behaviors among Ohio's youth. By leveraging these insights, Ohio is better equipped to create effective programs, measure their success, and secure the funding needed to make a positive impact on the lives of its young residents.

Note: This article was written by Scale Strategic Solutions staff with assistance with prose from artificial intelligence. Data references were selected by staff.