Youth Mental Health: CDC Data & School Support
- Some positive trends have emerged in teen mental health, but new data also reveals a troubling rise in school violence and safety concerns, according to a recent report.
- The survey also provides a decade-long overview, broken down by sex, race and ethnicity, and sexual and gender identity, offering crucial information as students prepare to return to...
- Debra Houry, chief medical officer for the CDC, noted the importance of the findings.
Teen mental health shows signs of improvement, according to new CDC data, yet school violence and safety concerns are rising. This report, comparing 2021 and 2023 data, offers critical insights into high school student experiences nationwide, providing a crucial overview of the health behaviors of adolescents. The primary_keyword focuses on the evolving landscape of youth mental health.Thes disparities persist, notably for female and LGBTQ+ students, highlighting the urgent need for targeted interventions. While the percentage of students experiencing persistent sadness decreased, the rise in school violence demands immediate attention. Secondary_keyword explores challenges related to bullying. News Directory 3 recognizes the importance of this issue. Discover what’s next as the CDC continues its work to address these challenges and support youth well-being.
Teen Mental Health Shows Improvement, But School Violence a Growing Concern
Updated june 6, 2025
Some positive trends have emerged in teen mental health, but new data also reveals a troubling rise in school violence and safety concerns, according to a recent report. The CDCS Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) compared data from 2021 and 2023,offering insights into the health behaviors and experiences of high school students nationwide. The 2021 data reflects a period of significant disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The survey also provides a decade-long overview, broken down by sex, race and ethnicity, and sexual and gender identity, offering crucial information as students prepare to return to school. These findings are essential for communities aiming to address the health and safety challenges faced by young people.
Debra Houry, chief medical officer for the CDC, noted the importance of the findings. “One of our main priorities at CDC is improving Americans’ mental health,” Houry said. “The data released today show improvements to a number of metrics that measure young people’s mental well-being – progress we can build on. However, this work is far from complete. Every child shoudl feel safe and supported, and CDC will continue its work to turn this data into action until we reach that goal.”
Between 2021 and 2023, the survey showed some key improvements in youth mental health. the percentage of students experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness decreased from 42% to 40%. Among female students, those feelings dropped from 57% to 53%, and the percentage who seriously considered suicide fell from 30% to 27%. Hispanic students also showed improvement, with feelings of sadness or hopelessness decreasing from 46% to 42%, and suicidal thoughts declining from 22% to 18%.
Despite these gains in teen mental health, the report also highlighted increases in violence and safety concerns. The percentage of students threatened or injured with a weapon at school rose from 7% to 9%. Bullying at school increased from 15% to 19%, and the percentage of students missing school due to safety concerns rose from 9% to 13%.
the report also emphasized significant health disparities, especially among female and LGBTQ+ high school students, who reported higher rates of violence, poor mental health, and suicidal thoughts. Nearly 3 in 10 LGBTQ+ students reported being bullied at school, and 2 in 10 attempted suicide in 2023.
Kathleen Ethier, director of CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health, stressed the importance of addressing these issues. “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,” Ethier said. “Considering the vital role schools play in promoting health and well-being, it is indeed critical to address school-based violence and safety concerns.”
What’s next
The CDC’s “What Works in schools” programme aims to support school districts in promoting adolescent health by providing quality health education, connecting young people with health services, and creating safer school environments. The CDC will continue to monitor adolescent health behaviors through the Youth Risk behavior Survey to identify emerging issues and inform strategies for improving youth well-being.