The Washington Department of Health announced the results of their 2012 “Healthy Youth Survey” Thursday.
Researchers say more than 200,000 Washington students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12 were polled.
While they found both cigarette and alcohol use was down among students, there were high numbers of 10th and 12th graders having sex.
Tim Church with the State Department of Health says administrators are concerned that nearly 8-percent of 8th and 10th graders attempted suicide last year and one in six kids ages 12 to 17 had seriously considered suicide.
Church says the best way for parents to gauge how their child is feeling is to talk with them.
The voluntary and anonymous survey is given every two years and helps state administrators create effective prevention programs.
