Teen mental health is moving in a more hopeful direction, according to the latest US Youth Risk Behaviour Survey. Yet the gains aren't evenly shared, with girls and LGBTQ+ teenagers still reporting far higher levels of distress than their peers.
The numbers are finally moving the right way
The clearest message from the latest teen mental health survey is one of improvement. In 2025, 33% of high school students said they'd experienced persistent sadness or hopelessness during the previous year, down from 42% in 2021. Serious thoughts of suicide also fell, from 22% to 14%. According to the CDC's Youth Risk Behaviour Survey, those measures have continued to improve since 2023. [2], [3]
That shift matters because teenage mental health had been worsening steadily for years before the pandemic. The latest figures suggest this isn't simply a brief bounce back after COVID-era disruption. It may be the early sign of a broader change, although nobody working with young people would mistake progress for a clean bill of health. [2], [3]
Why schools may be helping teenagers cope
Schools appear to be part of the explanation. The pandemic separated pupils from classmates, teachers and familiar routines, making an already difficult period feel even more isolating. As schools restored counselling, connection and targeted wellbeing support, some of the pressure seems to have eased. [2], [3]
That doesn't mean a wellbeing assembly can solve everything. But regular contact with trusted adults, access to support and a sense of belonging can make a real difference, particularly for teenagers who may not ask for help at home. For parents, a quiet question over dinner can sometimes open a door that a formal conversation keeps firmly shut. [3]
Girls and LGBTQ+ teenagers remain at much higher risk
The overall improvement hides a stubborn divide. Nearly 43% of girls reported persistent sadness, compared with 24% of boys. Teenagers identifying as lesbian, gay or bisexual also reported substantially worse outcomes: around 60% described persistent sadness, while 32% said they'd seriously considered suicide. The comparable figures for heterosexual pupils were 28% and 11%. [3], [4]
Those gaps are a reminder that national averages can be comforting but incomplete. A school may see its headline figures improve while some pupils still feel unsafe, excluded or unable to talk openly. Support therefore needs to be easy to find and designed with different experiences in mind, rather than offered as a single, one-size-fits-all package. [3], [4]
Social media is still part of the picture
Social media remains woven into daily teenage life. The CDC found that 36% of students used social media at least hourly, a level similar to the previous survey. That doesn't prove social media causes poor mental health, but it does show why sleep, comparison, online conflict and constant notifications remain relevant when families discuss wellbeing. [7]
A practical response needn't be a dramatic phone ban. Families can start with device-free sleep, agreed limits around late-night scrolling and a conversation about how particular apps make a young person feel. The useful question isn't simply how many hours they spend online, but whether they're sleeping, functioning and still enjoying life offline. [7]
Other risk-taking trends are also declining
The survey points to wider changes in teenage behaviour. About 19% of students reported being sexually active, while 20% said they currently drank alcohol. Fewer than one in ten reported illicit drug use. Each figure is lower than the comparable historical measure, suggesting that several forms of risk-taking have become less common among US teenagers. [6]
That makes the mental health improvement more interesting, not less. Teenagers aren't a single trend line, and fewer risky behaviours don't automatically mean every young person is thriving. Still, the broader picture offers some breathing space for families, schools and health professionals to focus on prevention before a crisis arrives. [6]
What parents and schools should do next
The sensible response is cautious optimism. Keep the supports that appear to be working, watch the groups still facing the greatest strain and make help straightforward to access. Teenagers shouldn't have to reach breaking point before an adult takes their distress seriously. [2], [3]
It also helps to look beyond the survey's reassuring headline. Ask about friendships, identity, sleep and online life, not just grades. And if a teenager talks about self-harm or suicide, treat it as urgent and seek immediate professional help through local emergency or crisis services. [3], [4]
The latest results bring welcome relief, but progress is strongest when every teenager can feel it.
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