CDC Report: Worsening mental health among American students over last decade, especially LGBTQ youth

AFSP stressed the importance of continued efforts in research, community education, and advocacy to address these challengesPhoto byPriscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦onUnsplash

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released its Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report: 2013–2023, providing insights into the health behaviors and experiences of U.S. high school students. The report highlights trends over the past decade, with a focus on changes observed from 2021 to 2023.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) responded to the report, emphasizing the ongoing need for prioritizing youth mental health and suicide prevention. Despite some improvements from 2021 to 2023, such as decreases in the percentage of female and Hispanic students experiencing persistent sadness or considering suicide, the overall trends from 2013 to 2023 reveal worsening mental health among students.

The report also highlights disparities across different groups, with LGBTQ, American Indian/Alaska Native, and female students more likely to report poor mental health and suicidal thoughts. In 2023, over 60% of LGBTQ students reported persistent feelings of sadness, and 20% attempted suicide.

AFSP stressed the importance of continued efforts in research, community education, and advocacy to address these challenges while expressing cautious optimism over recent decreases in adolescent suicide rates.