Prevention Education
SHARP Survey
What is it &
Why does it matter?
Student
Health
And
Risk
Prevention
Survey
is the most comprehensive source of information on the challenges and opportunities our youth face.
What is it?
The SHARP survey has been conducted every other year (6th, 8th, 10th and 12th grades)for the last 20 years. It asks questions about substance use; safe and healthy relationships; connection to family, school, and community; physical, social, and mental health; risky or harmful behaviors and what protects kids from these things.
Source: Utah Office of Substance Use and Mental Health.
How does it work?
The survey is completely opt in. Parents or guardians must sign a permission form for students to be able to participate. Once parents give permission, students are given the choice to take the survey or not.
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The survey is administered on the computer and is kept completely anonymous. There is no way for a specific survey to be connected to a specific student.
Why do we need it?
It’s an opportunity for adolescents to tell us about the many challenges they face in today’s world — and how well they think they’re prepared to handle them — without the fear of getting in trouble or the risk of someone thinking less of them. Students feel comfortable honestly answering tough questions because they know the survey is completely anonymous and can’t be tied back to them in any way.
Source: Utah Office of Substance Use and Mental Health.
Is asking specific questions risky?
Research studies show that asking questions about risky behaviors, i.e. suicide, sexual behaviors, drug use; does not increase the incidences of these behaviors. Asking about these questions can give someone that is struggling an opportunity to reach out for help. The data can also illustrate perception vs actual rate.
Source: Mathias et al, What's the harm in asking about suicidal ideation?
Why do we need it?
How do we know what issues youth are facing, if we don’t ask them?
Without the SHARP survey asking specific questions about anxiety, depression, drugs, alcohol, guns, family conflict, safety at school, vaping, suicide, etc. our efforts are like throwing darts blindfolded.
How is the data used?
The data tells parents what is happening in their child’s school, and in their wider community. This helps parents know what to talk about, so they can help their child navigate adolescence.
Source: Utah Office of Substance Use and Mental Health.
How is the data used?
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Local coalition work preventing substance use and suicide Parent education on harms of social media use in youth Expand access to mental health services and resources
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Create the Parents Empowered campaign encouraging parents to talk to their children about the dangers of underage drinking.
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Create the Know Your Script Campaign which empowers Utahns to make smart decisions and ask the right questions regarding prescription drug use
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Develop the SafeUT mobile app and Live On suicide prevention campaign.
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Pass legislation that restricts the places where flavored vaping products that appeal to children can be sold.
Sources
Utah Office of Substance Use and Mental Health
Mathias CW, Michael Furr R, Sheftall AH, Hill-Kapturczak N, Crum P, Dougherty DM. What's the harm in asking about suicidal ideation? Suicide Life Threat Behav. 2012 Jun;42(3):341-51. doi: 10.1111/j.1943-278X.2012.0095.x. Epub 2012 Apr 30. PMID:
22548324; PMCID: PMC3597074.
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