FACTS AND FIGURES
Learn about statistics, trends, and other relevant insights for behavioral health practitioners working to reduce health disparities and improve outcomes for people in underserved communities.
Youth Mental Health
A recent CDC study found that 37.1% of students experienced poor mental health during the
pandemic, and 44.2% said they felt "persistently sad or hopeless."
1 The study, which used data
from the
Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey of 7,705 U.S. public- and private-school
students in grades 9-12 conducted from January–June 2021, assessed student behaviors and
experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data showed that certain groups were more likely to
report poor mental health than others. Gay, lesbian, or bisexual students had a higher
prevalence of poor mental health compared to heterosexual students (63.8% vs 30.3%). In
addition, students of color who experienced perceived racism in their lifetime reported higher
levels of poor mental health during the pandemic than White students (Asian 67.9%, Black 62.1%,
Hispanic or Latino 45.7%, Multiracial 55.2%, and White 24.5%). These findings are similar to
results from other studies that found an association of discrimination and inequity with poor
health outcomes. Mental health issues among youths are an important public health concern, and
more research is needed to help prevent the progression of mental health problems among this
vulnerable population.
Percentage of high school students who reported experiencing perceived racism during
their life, * by selected behavioral characteristics and self-reported race and
ethnicity — Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey, United States, January–June 2021