Every two years, schools across central Utah administer the Student Health and Risk Prevention survey to thousands of students. The 2025 SHARP results are in, and this cycle brought two firsts: a parent-focused section in the survey itself, and district-level data for Ephraim Middle School and Manti High School presented directly to the Sanpete Cares Coalition. The big picture is encouraging. The details are more complicated. And the coalition has already identified its priorities for the next two years.
The Regional Picture
Six-county SHARP data was first presented at the North Sanpete Cares Coalition on December 2 and the Sanpete Cares Coalition on December 8, 2025. The broad trends were positive.
Substance use declined across most categories and grade levels. Alcohol, marijuana, traditional tobacco, vaping, and prescription drug misuse all dropped, with some categories showing reductions of over 60% compared to previous survey cycles. Mental health indicators improved: fewer students reported depressive symptoms, suicidal thoughts, or suicide attempts. Over 95% of students said it’s okay to seek help from a counselor or medical professional. School connectedness went up. More students reported feeling praised by teachers, viewing schoolwork as important, and feeling engaged. Protective factors (family connection, community belonging, sense that school has meaning) strengthened across the board.
Where the Concerns Are
Sixth grade stood out as the exception. While older students showed improvement, sixth graders showed increases in alcohol use, feelings of sadness or hopelessness, suicidal ideation, and lower perceptions of school importance. Coalition members flagged this as a priority across all three Sanpete coalitions.
Nicotine pouches are the other red flag. Vaping declined, but nicotine pouch products (marketed under names like Zen and similar brands) increased sharply. Schools report seeing more of these smokeless products, and they’re harder to detect than vapes. Vape detectors are going into school restrooms, but the shift suggests youth nicotine use is changing form rather than disappearing.
School suspensions increased across all grades in the six-county area, prompting discussion of alternative discipline strategies including a peer court model.
Screen time data appeared in the survey for the first time. Students reported frequent phone checking, limited enforcement of parental screen-time rules, and negative impacts on sleep, family time, schoolwork, and physical activity. Coalition members across all three Sanpete coalitions emphasized the need for stronger parent education on technology habits.
District-Level Data: Ephraim and Manti
On February 9, 2026, the Sanpete Cares Coalition reviewed SHARP data specific to Ephraim Middle School and Manti High School. The district-level numbers largely track the regional trends, with some local nuances.
Overall student well-being improved from 2023 to 2025, with decreases in substance use, depressive symptoms, and suicide-related behaviors. Protective supports from family, school, and community remain strong. Most students report feeling safe, supported by teachers, and viewing school as important for their future.
Some substance use indicators need continued monitoring: binge drinking at the high school level and vaping indicators at the middle school level were called out as areas where improvement hasn’t kept pace with the broader trends. Mental health showed positive movement, with more students reporting no depressive symptoms and fewer suicide risk behaviors, though some students still report hesitation in seeking help for themselves (as distinct from believing it’s okay for others to seek help).
Screen time appeared again as an emerging concern at both schools, with high daily use affecting sleep, emotional regulation, and academic focus for some students.
The 2026–2027 Priorities
The coalition’s Risk and Protective Factors Workgroup locked in two priority focus areas based on the SHARP data, presented at the February 9 meeting.
Priority one: youth help-seeking. Too few students talk to a trusted adult when they’re experiencing serious emotional distress. The workgroup identified parental attitudes toward mental health and low neighborhood or community attachment as contributing risk factors. Strategies will focus on expanding parent education around mental health, normalizing family conversations about emotions, and increasing youth connection through activities, leadership opportunities, and community engagement.
Priority two: nicotine prevention. Youth tobacco and nicotine use, especially pouches, remains a concern despite overall declines in smoking and vaping. The workgroup will focus on reducing availability and addressing parental attitudes and communication around substance use. Strategies include safe storage education for families and expanded parent and youth education on nicotine risks.
Both priorities will be addressed through coordinated community prevention efforts: improving youth help-seeking, strengthening family communication, increasing youth belonging, and reducing nicotine access and use.
Why It Matters
The SHARP Survey is the primary data source driving how Sanpete County’s three Cares Coalitions set their prevention priorities. These results directly shape which programs get funded, which interventions schools implement, and where community resources get directed over the next two years.
The gap between “95% of students think it’s okay to seek help” and “too few students actually talk to a trusted adult when they’re struggling” is where the coalition is focusing its energy. That gap is measurable, it’s local, and the coalition has a plan to close it.
What Comes Next
The coalition will build out strategies around both priority areas through coordinated efforts across schools, families, healthcare providers, and community organizations. Additional district-specific SHARP data may become available for other Sanpete County schools. Mental health screenings for students were scheduled for February 9, 2026.
Volunteers are still needed for the Community Assessment Work Group and the Resource Assessment Work Group. Contact Jocie Rojas at jocelyner@cucc.us to participate.
Sanpete Serves will follow the SHARP data as it develops and report on how the coalitions translate these numbers into programs and priorities for Sanpete County youth.
Sourcing: This article is based on coalition meeting minutes from the North Sanpete Cares Coalition (December 2, 2025), Sanpete Cares Coalition (October 13, December 8, 2025, and February 9, 2026), and Gunnison Valley Cares Coalition (January 27, 2026). District-specific data for Ephraim Middle School and Manti High School was presented at the February 9, 2026 Sanpete Cares Coalition meeting. For corrections, email info@sanpeteserves.com.
