An annual survey of a variety of topics around mental health and substance use is out and a local mental health professional is giving us a glimpse into the results.

Tony Kirkman is the Executive Director of the Piatt County Mental Health Center and indicates the Illinois Youth Survey polls kids in junior high and high school about various topics like suicidal ideation, drug use, and their mental health awareness.

Kirkman is encouraged teens report substance use at a lower rate as well as a lower rate of serious consideration of suicide.

According to Kirkman, the sharp acute mental health disturbances are going down, but the chronic long-term effects of depression and anxiety are going up. 

For Kirkman, social media is impacting our kids to a degree it is becoming unhealthy. Buildings like Clinton Junior High School across the area and even the country are starting to restrict kids' access to cell phones during the school day. 

Kirkman had a few more concerning findings in the annual survey of Illinois youth. We'll hear more from him on that next week on Regional Radio.