Survey finds improvement in mental health of N.H. high school students

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, September 6, 2026

New Hampshire high school students have shown improved mental health since the COVID-19 pandemic, with fewer reporting persistent sadness and suicidal thoughts according to the 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Despite these gains, mental health challenges remain elevated compared to pre-2015 levels, and recent changes in survey questions and participation rules reflect ongoing political and administrative debates about data collection.

The mental health of high school students in New Hampshire has improved steadily since declining during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data released on August 25 by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. The findings come from the biennial Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which showed a decrease in the percentage of students reporting persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness—from around 44 percent in 2021 to approximately 34 percent in 2025. Despite this improvement, the current rate remains notably higher than the roughly 25 percent reported in years prior to 2015.

New Hampshire Health and Human Services Commissioner Lori Weaver described the trend as encouraging, citing increased feelings of support, hope, and connection among teens. “This progress shows that when services and supports are accessible, our youth can experience better outcomes,” Weaver said in a statement.

The survey also revealed a decline in the share of students who seriously considered attempting suicide within the past year, dropping from nearly 25 percent in 2021 to about 16 percent in 2025. This latter figure aligns closely with data from 2017 and is only slightly elevated compared with historical rates.

Similar improvements in student mental health have been reported in neighboring states such as Maine, Vermont, and Massachusetts. However, New Hampshire’s most recent survey differed from these states by excluding questions about students’ gender identity. While the 2023 survey included an “Are you transgender?” question, the 2025 version did not, though it continued to ask about sexual orientation.

The removal of the transgender question coincided with the Trump administration’s decision to discontinue collecting transgender identifiers in federal health surveillance systems, including the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, although states retain the ability to modify their surveys. Officials from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to inquiries regarding the rationale behind the question’s removal or the state’s future plans for monitoring mental health trends among LGBTQ+ youth.

The survey has been subject to political debate within the state. In 2025, Republican lawmakers in New Hampshire approved legislation to change the survey’s participation model from “opt-out” to “opt-in,” citing concerns over sensitive questions related to sex, drugs, and suicide. However, the measure was vetoed by Republican Governor Kelly Ayotte, and the legislature did not override the veto.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.