The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its biennial Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey, revealing positive trends in youth mental health and physical wellness. The report found that persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness among high schoolers declined from 42% in 2021 to 33% in 2025. Suicide-related indicators also showed improvement, with the percentage of students seriously considering suicide falling from 22% in 2021 to 14% in 2025, and those who made a suicide plan declining from 18% in 2021 to 12% in 2025.
The survey also documented gains in nutrition and sports engagement. More high school students reported consuming fruits and vegetables compared to the previous survey cycle, and increased numbers participated on sports teams relative to 2023 levels. While physical activity levels showed minimal overall improvement, these positive developments prompted CDC officials to characterize the findings as encouraging for youth health trajectories.
The 2025 report represents a departure from previous versions in its emphasis and coverage. The survey has been conducted every two years for more than 35 years, but this year’s published findings prioritized topics including nutrition, exercise, sleep, screen time, and mental health. Notably absent from the report were discussions of teen smoking and vaping, exposure to violence, and health disparities among ethnic and demographic groups that had featured prominently in past releases.
Medical experts offered mixed assessments of the report’s scope. While acknowledging the mental health improvements as significant, some clinicians noted that omissions regarding substance use trends, sexual behaviors, firearm exposure, and LGBTQ+ youth data represented important gaps. CDC officials indicated that complete data on these subjects remained available through their website for state and community review, though the main report emphasized wellness-focused metrics aligned with current public health policy priorities.
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