Youth Mental Health
More than 1 in 3 high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness from 2020 to 2021, with rates higher among female, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and other or questioning students.LGBT adults are more likely to experience lost income and anxiety than non-LGBT adults, and are more likely to be vaccinated.
Mental health among U.S. high school students, by sex and sexual identity
Jan 2020-June 2021
Source: CDC Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (ABES). Note: The ABES survey was conducted Jan–June 2021 to assess student behaviors and experiences during the previous 12 months (n = 7,705).
Between 2009 and 2019, the share of high school students experiencing feelings of sadness or hopelessness, seriously considering suicide, and creating a suicide plan increased by 40%, 36%, and 44%, respectively.1,2 Experts warn that the pandemic has caused these rates to spike again, declaring a youth mental health national emergency in October 2021.3 During the pandemic, the share of female high school students that experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and either seriously considered or attempted suicide, was twice the share of male students. Almost half of students that are gay, lesbian, or bisexual seriously considered attempting suicide, as did 40% of students who identify as other or questioning their sexuality. High school students that identify as other or questioning their sexuality attempted suicide at rates 3 times that of heterosexual students, while students who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual attempted suicide at 5 times the rate.
Many Southern states have advanced anti-gay legislation in recent months and a recent survey found these efforts have negatively impacted the mental health of LGBTQ youth.4,5 The American Psychological Association specifically condemned Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill stating that it stigmatizes and marginalizes many children, which can lead to depression, anxiety, and even suicide.6
Building safe and affirming schools and expanding access to mental health care are among several systemic and institutional calls to action to avert the youth mental health crisis.1
“Protecting Youth Mental Health”. The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory. 2021. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-youth-mental-health-advisory.pdf
“Mental Health Among Adolescents”. CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/nchhstp/newsroom/docs/factsheets/dash-mental-health.pdf
“AAP-AACAP-CHA Declaration of a National Emergency in Child and Adolescent Mental Health”. American Academy of Pediatrics. October, 2021. https://www.aap.org/en/advocacy/child-and-adolescent-healthy-mental-development/aap-aacap-cha-declaration-of-a-national-emergency-in-child-and-adolescent-mental-health/
“LGBTQ Rights”. ACLU. https://www.aclu.org/issues/lgbtq-rights
“Anti-Transgender Legislation”. The Trevor Project. 2022. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2022/#anti-transgender-legislation
“APA president condemns Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill”. American Psychological Association. March, 2022. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2022/03/florida-dont-say-gay
