Marsing Hosts 2025 Youth Well-being Data Walk

Tara Woodward
8 hours ago
2 min read

On November 6th, the SW Idaho Communities for Youth Initiative, the Marsing Project, hosted this year’s Community Data Walk, highlighting results from the 2025 Student Well-being Survey completed by Marsing students in grades 6–12. The survey explored youth experiences related to mental health, overall well-being, and substance use.

A women presents to a group of community members. — Community members from Marsing learn about their local youth data.

After a pizza dinner, students enjoyed a movie and snacks in the cafeteria, while parents, caregivers and community members attended a presentation of the survey findings. A key highlight was the continued progress in reducing youth depression rates in Marsing over the past three years and increasing levels of physical activity – a key protective factor for Marsing youth!

Following the presentation, community members participated in the Data Walk—an interactive experience where they explored posters showcasing key insights from the survey. Topics included risk and protective factors for mental health and alcohol/drug use for Marsing youth identified through the survey, such as feelings of loneliness, lack of sleep, stress, and meaningful relations with trusted adults.

Presentations and data walks were held in English and Spanish. The Data Walk encouraged attendees to ask questions, share perspectives, and brainstorm ideas for Marsing community-led prevention efforts. At the end of the event, community members voted on their top priorities for what the Marsing Project Coalition should focus on for the next year. Based on the community’s input, the Marsing Project Coalition will set goals and develop and implement an action plan - supported by a grant from Southwest District Health—to address these priorities and promote meaningful, locally-driven change.

A young women presents a data poster in a school hallway to a small group.

Marsing community members take part in a community data walk.

If you’d like to get involved in the exciting work in Marsing, please contact Tara Woodward (Tara.Woodward@swdh.id.gov) at Southwest District Health. If you’d like to stay connected to the work of the SW Idaho Communities for Youth Initiative, please sign up for our newsletter.