Home / Health / US Youth Mental Health Improves: CDC Survey Shows Hope
US Youth Mental Health Improves: CDC Survey Shows Hope
23 Sep
Summary
- Teen mental health symptoms and suicide risk declined in 2025.
- More high schoolers reported eating fruits/vegetables and playing sports.
- Report omits data on substance use, violence, and LGBTQ+ youth.
Mental health symptoms and suicide risk among American high school students showed improvement in 2025 compared to two years prior, according to the latest Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey (YRBS) from the CDC. Persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness fell to 33% in 2025, down from 42% in 2021.
Similarly, the number of students seriously considering suicide dropped to 14% in 2025, with those making a suicide plan decreasing to 12%. The report also highlighted increased fruit and vegetable consumption and more students participating in sports teams.
This year's YRBS report places a new emphasis on health and wellness, aligning with initiatives focused on preventing chronic diseases. However, it omits previously included data on substance use, sexual behaviors, and exposure to violence.
Concerns were raised about the exclusion of detailed health disparities among ethnic groups and specific data on LGBTQ+ youth. While the CDC acknowledged data collection on these areas, their prominent omission in the highlighted report was noted by experts.
