Data Show Improvements in Youth Mental Health But There is Still A Need for Safer and More Supportive Schools

This report provides a detailed analysis of the health behaviors and experiences of high school students across the nation, comparing 2021 and 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data. The 2021 data are drawn from a year when schooling was still substantially disrupted due to COVID.

The report also provides 10-year data trends by sex, race and ethnicity, and sexual and gender identity. As students head back to school, these data are critical to highlighting the challenges faced by millions of young people so that communities can better address their health and safety.

Key improvements to youth mental health from 2021 to 2023 include:

Decreases in the percentage of students overall who experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness (from 42% to 40%).
Decreases in the percentage of female students who experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness (from 57% to 53%) and who seriously considered attempting suicide (30% to 27%).
Decreases in the percentage of Hispanic students who felt persistently sad or hopeless (from 46% to 42%), who experienced poor mental health (30% to 26%), who seriously considered attempting suicide (22% to 18%) and who made a suicide plan (19% to 16%).
Decreases in the percentage of Black students who attempted suicide (from 14% to 10%) and who were injured in a suicide attempt (4% to 2%).

Despite these positive signs, there are increases in the percentage of students reporting violence and safety concerns at school or on the way to school:

Increases in the percentage of students who were threatened or injured with a weapon at school (7% to 9%).
Increases in the percentage of students who were bullied at school (15% to 19%).
Increases in the percentage of students who missed school because of safety concerns either at school or on the way to school (9% to 13%).

This report also underscores significant health disparities, particularly among female and LGBTQ+ high school students, who report higher rates of violence, poor mental health and suicidal thoughts and behaviors than their peers. In 2023, nearly three in 10 LGBTQ+ students were bullied at school, and two in 10 attempted suicide.

CDC's What Works in Schools program helps promote adolescent health and well-being by supporting school districts to teach quality health education, connect young people to needed health services and make school environments safer and more supportive. This program positively impacts many behaviors and experiences presented in today's report.

CDC has collected and analyzed data on youth health and well-being for more than three decades. Data are analyzed from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which monitors adolescent health behaviors and experiences over time. It identifies emerging issues and helps us understand health-related topics affecting youth, including mental health. Overall, it gives the best picture of what is going on at the national, state, and local level.

Additional Resources

Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools: An Action Guide for School and District Leaders can help schools build on what they are already doing to promote students' mental health and find new strategies to fill in gaps.
Violence Prevention in Practice | VetoViolence (cdc.gov) focuses on TAKING ACTION to select and implement the strategies presented in the Division of Violence Prevention's (DVP) Resources for Action.
Youth Violence Prevention Resource for Action (cdc.gov) represents a select group of strategies based on the best available evidence to help communities and states sharpen their focus on prevention activities with the greatest potential to prevent youth violence and its consequences.
Contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.