Needham Schools Share Health Survey Findings

October 8, 2026
• The survey recorded student substance use, mental health, smartphone use, gambling and more behaviors.

School officials presented the results from the 2025 MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey at the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 6. The survey, administered every other year, tracks behavioral trends among high school and middle school students over time.

Denise Domnarski, the district’s director of K-12 wellness, reported significant declines in vaping, alcohol consumption and marijuana use among Needham students. Depressive symptoms and self-harm are also at historic lows, but for LGBTQ+ students, it’s a different story — those students are more than three times more likely to report depressive symptoms and nearly six times more likely to self harm. Across racial backgrounds and disabilities, similar patterns emerge.

After a universal phone restriction within Needham High School went into effect in the fall of 2024, phone and social media use have both risen significantly between 2023 and 2025.

Municipal Producer Melissa Marchese has more on the presentation and discussion:

This story ran as part of the Needham Channel News, a weekly newscast airing on The Needham Channel every Thursday at 7:30pm. The Needham Channel News can be found on the Community Channel: Comcast 9, Astound 15 and Verizon 29. Most Thursdays it also can be viewed on our HD Channel on Verizon 2129, Astound 613 and streaming on this site.