How is youth health in Whatcom County? New statewide study provides a snapshot
Results from a statewide survey of middle school and high school students show promising trends in Whatcom County, while some areas of concern remain.
The statewide Healthy Youth Survey is conducted every two years to provide a look at the well-being of young people in Washington. The survey is taken by students in the sixth, eighth, 10th and 12th grades. However, in Whatcom County, there are no results from 12th grade.
More than 4,500 Whatcom County students and 213,000 students statewide participated in the 2025 survey.
“It’s encouraging to see data show continued improvements in the mental health of our young people,” Whatcom County Health and Community Services Department Director Champ Thomaskutty said. “This progress is a testament to our community’s strong, post-pandemic commitment to supporting youth and families through prevention coalitions, parents, teachers, health professionals and countless others.”
The survey asked students about everything from drug and alcohol use to school safety and mental health. Here are some of the major takeaways:
Bullying
In Whatcom County, both sixth and 10th graders reported rates of bullying in the past month above the state average. However, all grades reported either similar or decreased rates of bullying and feelings of being unsafe at school compared to 2023.
About 32% of sixth-graders, 28% of eighth-graders and 16% of 10th-graders in Whatcom County said they were bullied in the past month. Statewide, students who said they were bullied reported having lower hope than those who didn’t.
Drug, alcohol and tobacco use
Rates of substance use didn’t change much between 2023 and 2025. However, survey results showed a sudden increase in the use of smokeless tobacco products in Whatcom County. In 2023, 0% of students reported using smokeless tobacco products. Last year, 5% of sixth-graders, 3% of eighth-graders and 6% of 10th-graders reported using them.
Overall, students reported using fewer illegal drugs, smoking tobacco and marijuana less, and drinking less alcohol in Whatcom County. Among 10th-graders, the amount that reported “problem” or “heavy” drinking was four times lower in 2025 than 2023.
Social media and mental health
The county said it is seeing “concerning new trends” around body-shaming, disordered eating and screen time.
Nearly a third of eighth-graders and 47% of 10th-graders use social media several times a day or about once an hour, according to the survey results. Results for sixth-graders were not reported for this section.
The study also looked at whether students were at risk of “problematic internet use,” which is defined as use that is risky, excessive or impulsive and can lead to adverse consequences in an individual’s life, including physical, emotional, social or functional impairment.
Among eighth-graders, about 39% were at risk of problematic internet use, which is roughly the same as 2023. However, the risk increased among eighth-graders to 48% last year.
The county also highlighted that more than half of 10th-graders reported disordered eating behaviors in the past year.
Reports of sadness and hopelessness decreased in 2025 among eighth- and 10th-graders, though about one in four of these students said that they felt that way in the last year. Fourteen percent of eighth-graders considered suicide in 2025, according to the data, and 8% attempted it. For 10th-graders, those numbers were 12% and 6%, respectively.
What comes next
The county said it is still reviewing the Healthy Youth Survey results and looking for trends and emerging issues. The Health and Community Services Department will work with school districts and Whatcom County’s four prevention coalitions to address the needs they identify.
Whatcom County’s four prevention coalitions are Birch Bay/Blaine Thrives, the Ferndale Community Coalition, the Mount Baker Community Coalition and the Whatcom Prevention Coalition.
The county encourages volunteers to get involved with the coalitions to help maintain programs with less funding. They’re also asking people to act as trusted adults for children to help protect against mental health issues, suicide and bullying.
Complete results of the 2025 Healthy Youth Survey are available at askhys.net.