One of the most gratifying aspects of being from Missouri is our strong sense of community. We handle diversity and uniformity, adversity and opportunity, victory and disappointment with a united front. Even though no two of our communities look alike, what binds us together to tackle tough issues is our concern for the well-being and health of our neighbors, especially the most vulnerable, our youth.
Achieving optimal community wellness requires taking a good, scientific look at its behavioral health. Some of the most critical social crises our citizens face are ancillary effects of substance use, mental illness, or a combination of the two. The Missouri Student Survey is one of the simplest methods to collect anonymous data from your students. With these data, your community can assess needs, identify resource gaps, work together to solve its behavioral health disparities, and celebrate its strengths.
It is entirely free for school districts and can be completed online in one class period. No individual school’s information is ever made public; however, school districts do receive a private report of the survey’s findings. In addition, your community can use this information to plan prevention and intervention strategies, apply for grants, plan a media campaign, and improve overall wellness.
If your county or school district does not currently participate, encourage them to do so today by sharing this resource.
Read the 2016 MSS Report.