CDC Report Reveals Mixed Bag for Teen Mental Health: progress Alongside Rising Safety Concerns
August 6, 2024 – A newly released report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) paints a complex picture of adolescent well-being in the United States.While the data show encouraging improvements in some areas of teen mental health, especially a decline in feelings of persistent sadness and hopelessness, it also reveals a worrying rise in school-based violence and safety-related absences.
The report, based on the CDC’s 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), compares data from 2021 – a period still significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic – and 2023, offering a crucial snapshot of the challenges facing young people as they return to school.The YRBS also provides valuable ten-year trends broken down by sex, race, ethnicity, and sexual and gender identity.
“Improving Americans’ mental health is a top priority for the CDC,” stated Dr. Debra Houry, the agency’s chief medical officer and deputy director for program and science. “Today’s data demonstrate progress in several key metrics related to youth mental well-being – progress we can and must build upon. Though, our work is far from over. Every child deserves to feel safe and supported, and the CDC remains committed to translating these findings into action.”
Signs of Improvement in Mental Wellbeing
The report highlights several positive trends:
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