Representatives from Greenwich Together presented the results of the coalition’s biennial youth survey, summarizing student responses about mental health, sleep, technology use and substance use.

Ellen Brozovsky, project director, and local evaluator Nina Chonana reported the survey is administered every two years across public and private schools in town. The parent survey was made available in English and Spanish; student surveys were administered in English with an opt-out option. Greenwich High School reported about 25 student opt-outs; private-school opt-outs were fewer than 10, presenters said.

Key takeaways included: improvements from peak post‑COVID measures in some mental-health indicators, persistent concerns about screen time and interrupted sleep, and continued prevalence of alcohol as the most-used substance. The data showed about 40% of students reported interrupted sleep because of cell phones; half of teens reported three hours per day on their phones and some reported five or more hours.

Board members and presenters discussed how the survey informs programming: Greenwich Together plans to rework its logic model and action plan, host a public meeting on May 12 at Town Hall to present results, and conduct focus groups with parents and youth to gather qualitative context. Initiatives already underway include a social-host campaign with police and liquor retailers for prom/graduation season, a “hidden-in-plain-sight” training for parents and the annual Hope Day anti‑stigma event.

Board members encouraged the coalition to pursue digital opt-out forms where schools found that method helpful and to consider additional survey items relating technology use to sleep and mental health for future cycles.

Greenwich Together will post the full report and slides to its website and will provide follow-up materials to the district ahead of the public forum.