Youth Mental Health Crisis Continues, CDC Reports
- The CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Survey reveals that 40% of high school students feel persistently sad and hopeless.
- This percentage is a slight decrease from 42% two years prior, indicating a small but noteworthy improvement.
- Despite the slight decline, the statistics highlight an ongoing mental health crisis among youth.
Kathleen Ethier, director of the CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health, cautions that the youth mental health crisis is far from over, despite some encouraging statistics. Between 2021 and 2023, reports of poor mental health among adolescents decreased overall. Notably, the percentage of girls reporting feelings of sadness and hopelessness fell from 57% to 53%, while suicide attempts among Black students decreased from 14% to 10%. These figures suggest a slight improvement, yet Ethier emphasizes the need for continued vigilance. Dr. Vera Feuer expressed optimism about these emerging positive trends, particularly in light of the first decline in youth suicide rates in years. Psychologist Mary Alvord also highlighted a decrease in substance use among teens over the past decade, attributing these improvements to recent initiatives aimed at addressing mental health. Ethier noted that this marks the first time a national conversation about young people's mental health has gained traction, which may be contributing to these positive changes. However, the report also revealed alarming statistics regarding violence, with two out of ten girls reporting experiences of sexual violence and one in ten indicating they had been forced to have sex. Ethier pointed out that these troubling experiences may lead to negative behaviors among youth. She advocates for proven strategies in schools, such as enhancing mental health literacy and supporting teachers, to not only improve student mental health but also mitigate school violence.