Hopkinton’s middle and high school students are feeling less anxious and depressed, but there still are areas of concern, particularly for students with disabilities and in the LGBTQ+ community.

At this past Thursday’s School Committee meeting, the results of the Metrowest Adolescent Health Survey from fall 2025 were reviewed.

Colleen Souza, a social worker with Hopkinton Youth & Family Services, noted the data is used to access grant funding and identify trends in behavior and attitude. She said the survey responses form a “cohesive narrative over time,” and Hopkinton’s data matches regional, state and national trends.

Lauren McDonough, Hopkinton Middle School assistant principal, highlighted some of the changes the latest survey showed when compared to 2023. Seventh and eighth graders reported a decrease in anxiety, going from 26.7% to 20.8%, as well as depression, with a decline from 13.1% to 10.2%.

Students also feel less inclined to engage in self-injury and vaping and are less stressed about their appearance and losing weight.

The 902 respondents also reported an increase in student connectedness, with three-quarters saying they felt there was an adult they could speak to and people at school with whom they felt close.

Souza said possible factors impacting the improvements include culturally responsive teaching practices, access to resources in school and the community, and an increased emphasis on fostering connectedness with students and among students.

There are areas of concern within subgroups. Students with disabilities, for example, have higher rates of stress, suicidal ideation, anxiety and depression.

Students without disabilities report depressive symptoms at 8.8% while students with disabilities are at 19.6%.

Similarly, 30.4% of students with disabilities experience anxiety, while 16.9% of their non-disabled counterparts report it.

Also, 20.6% of middle school students say they have seriously contemplated suicide, while 8.7% of students without disabilities report the same.

Hispanic/Latino students also have higher rates of depression, anxiety and suicide ideation, according to the survey.

Among the LGBTQ+ or questioning population, the survey indicates this population is more likely to seriously consider suicide (38% to 7.9%) or attempt it (13.8% to 1.8%).

They also feel less safe at school (61.8% vs. 84%) and are far more likely to be the victim of bullying.

McDonough said a great deal of student conflict begins online, and the district will continue to provide students and families with resources to promote safe and positive technology use.

She said faculty supports student mental health through “a multi-tiered system of support.”

McDonough said a team of five or six teachers consistently talk with students about their needs.

“There’s work to be done, but we have a plan for how to get it done,” she added.

Superintendent Evan Bishop said administrators often adapt data from the survey into their school improvement plans and “sometimes set goals around some of these subgroups — wanting percentages to come down.”

Laura Theis, assistant principal at Hopkinton High School, highlighted some of the responses from 1,005 students, saying many are similar to the middle schoolers.

She pointed out that self-injury is at a 20-year low at 8.4%, approximately half of what was reported in 2021.

Theis showed comparisons with both 2021 and 2023 answers in her presentation.

She said there is a disparity with female students — experiencing more depressive symptoms, and more than a third saying they felt life was stressful in the past 30 days.

Although 83.1% of high school students said they had a trusted adult to talk with, and 75% feel like they are part of the school and feel close to people there, Theis said administrators are always looking for ways to get that percentage to 100 or as high as possible.

Trends she highlighted as areas of concern included the fact that 35.1% of students report using social media more than three hours per day and 54.3% are on their smart phones that long as well. Previously, the rates were 24.2% and 44.6%.

Students participating in activities outside of school increased from 28.6% in 2023 to 37.6% in 2025. Theis noted that students do sometimes over-schedule themselves, and that can lead to mental health issues.

In addition, she noted high school students with disabilities report more depressive symptoms and anxiety, 28.7% and 38.6% compared with their non-disabled peers, 12.4%, 23.9%.

LGBTQ+ or questioning respondents also are more than twice as susceptible to bullying and anxiety, according to the survey.

The results also show fewer students drinking and vaping, although there is a slight increase in prescription drug misuse, Theis said.

Erin Bartolini, representing Hopkinton Organizing for Prevention (HOP), spoke about that coalition’s work to lower substance use. The organization, founded in 2015, received grant funds of $625,000 to continue its work over the next five years.

Among its efforts are education/training, youth prevention programs and community assessments. She said in general, most youth in Hopkinton do not use substances.

She said a lot of progress has been made with parents and the community also “doing their part … to have positive outcomes.”

School Committee vice chair Jamie Wronka praised those who conducted the presentation.

“That was wonderful,” Wronka said. “Sharing all that data and the trends that have been positive in town and things to keep looking for — that’s incredibly valuable.”