Fewer Needham High School and Pollard Middle School students reported depressive symptoms in 2025 than two years earlier, but the biennial MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey also revealed sharp disparities for LGBTQ+, Hispanic/Latino, and Black students and increases in gambling, substance use before sex, and body-image struggles.

Epidemiologist Emily Conners presented the data to the Needham Board of Health on June 26, alongside assistant public health director Julie McCarthy. Depressive symptoms among secondary students fell from about 20% in 2023 to 15% in 2025. Conners said the figures represent a return to pre-pandemic levels and expressed hope the trend would continue downward.

Survey participation

The survey drew 1,352 responses at Needham High School, an 83.5% participation rate, and 807 at Pollard Middle School, an 88.7% rate. Administered biennially since 2006 by the Education Development Center and funded by the MetroWest Health Foundation, the survey covers approximately 40,000 students across 25 communities in the MetroWest region. The 2020 cycle was skipped because of COVID-19.

Equity gaps in the data

The topline improvement masks uneven experiences. Among Needham High students, 26% of Hispanic/Latino respondents and 22% of Black respondents reported depressive symptoms, well above the schoolwide 15%. LGBTQ+ high schoolers reported 34% depressive symptoms and a 37% self-injury rate. Students with disabilities reported 27% for both measures. More than 13% of high school participants and 12.8% of middle school participants identified as LGBTQ+ or questioning.

Conners put the suicide data in human terms: roughly 31 high school students and 23 middle school students reported having attempted suicide at some point in their lives.

"In both cases, this is at least a whole classroom full of students that have, in their lifetime, attempted suicide," she told the board.

Substance use and sexual health

Substance use declined across the board over the past decade for high schoolers, but alcohol remains the most commonly used substance. Needham students report higher alcohol use than the MetroWest regional average, consistent with historic data. Among middle schoolers, vaping and alcohol use fell from 2023 to 2025, though cigarette and marijuana use ticked up slightly. Middle schoolers also reported higher rates of fighting and weapon-carrying than their high school peers.

On sexual health, use of alcohol and drugs before intercourse among high schoolers rose 15% relative to 2023 levels, while condom use dropped 10% over the same period.

Body image and gambling

About 50% of female high school respondents reported trying to lose weight and restricting calories, more than 20 percentage points above their male peers. Male students in both schools recorded higher rates of online gambling through skill games, lottery apps, fantasy sports, and casino platforms.

"We may want to figure out a way we can do some preventative work in [gambling]. I have a feeling this is going to turn into a big deal," board member Edward Cosgrove said.

Board Chair Dr. Robert Partridge agreed, noting that early gambling exposure is a known predictor of adult gambling problems. Director of Health and Human Services Tim McDonald said no specific groups in Needham are addressing youth gambling trends, but Northeastern University's public health advocacy institute has begun studying the issue.

What comes next

McDonald acknowledged that responses to survey data from the Substance Use Prevention team, Youth and Family Services, and schools have historically lacked coordination. He said the department is working to present the data to the School Committee before its typical September timeline.

McCarthy said the MetroWest Health Foundation will offer grants to help schools and municipalities build programs based on the survey findings.