Wednesday, January
18, 2017 — Dr. Marny Rivera, a faculty member of the UAA Justice
Center, presented emerging public health issues among Anchorage youth at the 34th Annual Alaska Health Summit. Her
co-presenters were Curtis Smith (UAA Center for Human Development) and Drs.
Gabriel Garcia and Travis Hedwig (UAA Department of Health Sciences). Together, they presented an assessment of
current behavioral health concerns among Anchorage youth through the analysis of
primary and secondary data sources.
They presented three major findings. First, while substance use is trending
downward across nearly all substances and age groups, there are still racial/ethnic
disparities in substance use and differences in the types of substance
used. Second, poor mental health
conditions affect a sizeable proportion of youth. However, some groups are more likely to be
affected by these conditions, including racial/ethnic minorities, high school
freshmen, and females. Third, a significant
proportion of youth experience bullying in school or electronically. Those who report being bullied are also
likely to report alcohol use and binge drinking, feeling alone and sad or
hopeless, missing school, and having suicidal thoughts. Dr. Rivera and her co-presenters discussed
the importance of enhancing and increasing internal and external youth assets
to address these problems.
For more information on their 2015 behavioral health and
wellness assessment:
- Growing up Anchorage 2015: Anchorage Youth and Young Adult Behavioral Health and Wellness Assessment. Anchorage: Center for Human Development, University of Alaska Anchorage, Dec 2015.
- Dr. Rivera is coauthor of Anchorage Collaborative Coalitions report on youth behavioral needs assessment (UAA Justice center blog, 29 Apr 2016).
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| Presenting at the 34th Annual Alaska Health Summit (left to right): Dr. Travis Hedwig, UAA Department of Health Sciences; Dr. Gabriel Garcia, UAA Department of Health Sciences; Curtis Smith, UAA Center for Human Development; Dr. Marny Rivera, UAA Justice Center |
