Aspen School District using critical data to improve student health

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to accurately reflect certain data.

Recently collected data on substance abuse and mental health is spurring Aspen School District to address further support efforts among its student population.

Every two years, the state conducts what’s called the Colorado Healthy Kids Survey. Students from across Colorado are asked various questions not just about substance abuse and mental health, but social questions over racism, belonging, food insecurity and more.

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According to data presented to the school board Wednesday by Katherine Sand, director of Aspen Family Connections, the district’s family resource center, many Aspen students saying they experienced racism, hopelessness, hunger and suicidal ideation.

In 2023, 43.15% of Aspen High School’s student body reported “poor mental health most or all of the time,” which correlates with students who reported not feeling a sense of belonging at school. Of the students who reported feeling poor mental health most or all of the time, 41.46% of them reported going hungry for a lack of food over the past 30 days.

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And of the 43.14% of Aspen High School students who reported feeling poor mental health most or all of the time, 42% reported experiencing racism over the past 12 months.

According to the presentation, the district intends to use this data to better curtail early substance abuse, establish better oversight and address health inequities among its Hispanic youth population. 

Aspen’s Hispanic students have reported higher numbers of suicide attempts, not having an adult to go to in a time of need, and being treated “badly because of their race.”

Social and economic disparities between racial groups at Aspen School District are still ongoing concerns, according to Sand. 

“There’s more we can do to stop our minority kids from slipping through the cracks,” Sand said.

According to the numbers, however, Aspen students as a whole who reported drinking alcohol in the past 30 days exceeded regional, statewide, and national cohorts. Data shows a range of 50-52.5% of Aspen High School students saying they consumed alcohol in the past 30 days in 2017, 2019 and 2021. Similar data for 2023 was not presented.

In 2021 alone, 17.8% of Aspen High School students said they used substances to overcome negative feelings over the past 12 months. To that, 13.5% of region 12 students — which include Pitkin, Garfield, Eagle, Summit and Grand counties — reported the same thing. That number shrinks to 11.4% when it comes to statewide results.

Sand said Aspen’s party culture also contributes to substance accessibility and abuse among local youth.

“This town is fueled by alcohol sales,” she said.

There are, however, some positive trends. According to the data, the 39.8% of Aspen High School students who reported feeling sad or hopeless in 2021 decreased to 19.8% in 2023. The 18.1% of students who “seriously considered suicide” in 2021 dropped to 9.5% in 2023.

“The effort matters,” Aspen School District Superintendent Tharyn Mulberry said. “It can be addressed.”

To help develop new ways to promote student mental health and achievement, Aspen Family Connections will be using a substantial grant allocated by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Family Connections is earmarked to receive $150,000 each year for the next five years.

In addition to federal funds, the district approved using revenues from the city of Aspen’s nicotine and tobacco tax for support. This can amount to $250,000 in one year.

“Kudos to getting that grant,” Mulberry said, praising Aspen Family Connections. “We’re absolutely indebted to the work that goes around that.”

Ray K. Erku can be reached at (970) 429-9120 or rerku@aspentimes.com.