From 2021 to 2023, the percentage of students who reported experiencing "persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness" decreased slightly from 42% to 40%, according to data from the CDC.
The data was collected for the "Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report 2013–2023," which provided the most recent data on the health, behaviors and experiences of high school students in the U.S., as well as 10-year trends and two-year changes, according to an Aug. 6 CDC news release. The 2021 data was collected when schooling was still substantially disrupted due to COVID.
Here are three additional improvements in the mental health of youth in the two-year period:
- The percentage of female students who said they experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness dropped from 57% to 53%.
- The percentage of girls who who seriously considered attempting suicide decreased from 22% to 18%, and the percentage of those who made a suicide plan dropped by three percentage points, from 19% to 16%.
- The percentage of Black students who attempted suicide decreased from 14% to 10%, and the percentage of Black students who were injured in a suicide attempted dropped from 4% to 2%.
Despite these improvements, the data showed that significant issues still remain, particularly in feelings of safety at school. The percentage of students who were bullied at school jumped from 15% to 19%, according to the release. Further, the percentage of those who were threatened or injured with a weapon at school increased from 7% to 9%, while the percentage of students who missed school due to safety concerns either on their way to school or at school also increased from 9% to 13%.
"These data show that we've made some progress in tackling these issues in recent years, which proves that they are not insurmountable. However, there's still much work ahead," CDC Division of Adolescent and School Health Director Kathleen Ethier, PhD, said in the release. "Considering the vital role schools play in promoting health and well-being, it is critical to address school-based violence and safety concerns."