Springfield eighth graders report higher rates of feeling sad or hopeless when compared with all students in Massachusetts, according to results of a survey reported by the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts.
The data reported by the community health organization illuminated mental health inequities by sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, and race and ethnicity.
One in five teenagers who identified as LGBT have attempted suicide.
Institute executive director Jessica Collins said similar findings emerged in a survey two years ago.
"This is an alarming data point that everyone in the region should be concern about that some of these young people are feeling so hopeless," said Collins
1,277 Springfield eighth graders answered 100 health questions in a survey.
