There are small signs of improvement in the mental health of U.S. teenagers, a government survey released Tuesday said, but the share of students — — feeling sad and hopeless remained high.
From 2021 to 2023, the portion of high school students who reported feelings of persistent sadness or hopelessness declined from 42% to 40%, according to the . More than 20,000 students were surveyed at school in the spring of 2023. Among girls, the percentage reporting persistent sadness or hopelessness fell from 57% to 53%.
The share of girls reporting they had seriously considered attempting suicide edged downward from 30% to 27%. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted many school activities, increased isolation among youth and may have contributed to on mental health. But long-term trends also reflect a worsening of mental health among teenagers, .
___ EDITOR’S NOTE: This story includes discussions of mental health. If you or someone you know needs help, reach out to the at 988, or the National Alliance on Mental Illness by calling 1-800-950-6264 or texting “NAMI” to 741741. ___ Social media’s emphasis on appearance and body image contributes to the pressures on girls' mental health, said Dr.
Anisha Abraham of Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C., and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics.
In 2023, 77% of students said they several times a day, with girls more likely than boys to use social media that often. Sixteen percent of high school students sai.