Despite some gains, teens — especially girls — are still struggling with their mental health since the pandemic, report shows

Compared to ten years ago, teens today, especially girls, are feeling a lot more persistently sad and hopeless. They’re also thinking more about suicide or attempting it. While things are still pretty serious, there’s a slight glimmer of hope: recent data suggests that, in some areas, mental health among teens may be improving just a bit since the pandemic.

• In 2023, around 40% of high school students reported feeling persistently sad or hopeless, which is slightly down from 42% in 2021.

• However, this is still significantly higher than the 30% recorded in 2013.

• 20% of students said they seriously considered suicide in 2023, up from 17% in 2013.

• 9% of teens actually attempted suicide in 2023, a slight decrease from 10% in 2021, but still above the 8% in 2013.

The survey was based on responses from over 20,000 students from 155 schools across the country, with data collected in spring 2023. What’s striking is that the trend is especially pronounced among girls.

• 53% of girls reported feeling persistently sad or hopeless in 2023, compared to just 28% of boys.

• The gap between boys and girls has been growing over the past decade, with girls facing higher levels of distress.

While these numbers are still alarmingly high, there are some positive signs. Rates of sadness and suicide attempts have slightly dropped since their peak during the pandemic, though the problem remains far from solved.

• Mental health indicators have shown minor improvement since 2021, but the overall mental health crisis among teens continues.

When looking at different racial and ethnic groups, some improvements can be seen.

• Black students reported a drop in suicide attempts, from 14% in 2021 to 10% in 2023.

• Multiracial, Asian, and Hispanic students showed lower rates of hopelessness and suicidal thoughts compared to previous years.

This suggests that some efforts to address mental health may be making a difference, but there’s still a long way to go.

However, the crisis is even more severe for LGBTQ+ students.

• Nearly 30% of LGBTQ+ students reported being bullied at school.

• 20% of LGBTQ+ students attempted suicide in the past year.

The mental health disparities in this group are staggering and point to the need for much stronger support in schools.

The role of schools is critical here. Creating safe, supportive environments is key to improving mental health among teens.

• Schools must address bullying, trauma, and other factors that contribute to poor mental health.

• The CDC is working with schools to implement programs that provide better health education, connect students with mental health services, and create safer spaces.

So while some improvements are emerging, the overall picture of teen mental health is still deeply concerning. There’s hope for progress, but more needs to be done to ensure that every teen gets the support they need.