Children and teens across America are struggling with their mental health, and the problem, including the amount of youth with suicidal thoughts and behaviors, is getting worse, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Twenty-eight percent of students experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2011. In 2021, 42% of students reported these feelings. The percentage of male students experiencing these feelings increased from 21% in 2011 to 29% in 2021. For female students, percentages rose from 36% in 2011 to 57% in 2021, according to a 2021 CDC survey.
