New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that the mental health of American teenagers has shown notable improvement after reaching a decade low in 2021. According to the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey, conducted biennially among high school students nationwide, several indicators related to depression and suicidal ideation have declined in recent years, continuing a trend first observed in 2023.

The 2025 survey found that 33% of high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness over the previous 12 months, down from 42% at the 2021 peak. Similarly, 14% of teenagers said they had seriously considered attempting suicide, a decrease from 22% in 2021. These figures also represent an improvement compared to 2019 levels, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jean Twenge, a psychologist at San Diego State University who studies adolescent mental health in relation to technology use, described the declines as “very striking,” noting that these improvements suggest a more sustained positive shift beyond the immediate aftermath of the pandemic.

Despite the overall progress, the data highlights significant disparities affecting certain groups. Teenagers identifying as lesbian, gay, or bisexual continue to experience disproportionately poor mental health outcomes. Nearly 60% of these students reported persistent sadness, compared with 28% of their heterosexual peers. Additionally, 32% of lesbian, gay, or bisexual teens seriously considered suicide, versus 11% of heterosexual students.

Gender differences were also apparent, with 43% of female students reporting persistent sadness compared to 27% of male students. These findings mirror patterns observed in previous survey cycles.

The CDC report also documented ongoing declines in risky behaviors over the past three decades. The percentage of teenagers who reported being sexually active fell to 19%, down from nearly 38% in 1991 when the question was first included. Similarly, alcohol consumption among teens dropped to 20% from approximately 51% in 1991, and illicit drug use decreased to less than 10%, compared with 27% when initially tracked in 2001.

Regarding technology use, 36% of teenagers reported engaging with social media for an hour or more daily, consistent with levels recorded in 2023.

One notable methodological change in the 2025 survey was the removal of questions regarding transgender identity. This followed a federal executive order issued under the previous administration limiting government recognition to two sexes, male and female. This adjustment has affected the data’s capacity to capture mental health trends among transgender youth.

The CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey remains a critical tool for understanding adolescent health trends across the United States, providing insight into areas of improvement as well as ongoing challenges faced by diverse youth populations.