(VitalNews.org) – A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the levels of sadness and hopelessness are improving in United States teenagers. The report was drawn from the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a report that’s done every other year and asks about substance abuse, sexual behavior, violent experiences, and mental health among high school aged students.
Although the results seem hopeful, experts have said that challenges still remain as some metrics worsened in the recent report. One particular concern is that there is a growing group of students that have missed school because they didn’t feel safe.
Hedy Chang, Executive Director of Attendance Works, said, “I think schools heard the message that they needed to invest more in social-emotional support and in a sense of belonging.”
The DCD’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Debra Houry, said, “The data released today show improvements to a number of metrics that measure young people’s mental wellbeing – progress we can build on.”
“However, this work is far from complete,” she continued. “Every child should feel safe and supported, and CDC will continue its work to turn this data into action until we reach that goal.”
The previous report was performed two years ago in 2021 and it showed results of deteriorating mental health among teenagers across the board. According to the updated data, there has been an increase in hopefulness and overall happiness among teens.
The survey showed that hopelessness dropped by two percent for both males and females, while female students themselves had a decrease of four percent.
The report shows disparities in young mental health for females and LQBTQ+ students as well. Students have also experienced an increased sense of worry, and many have felt more unsafe at school recently than in previous years.
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