What's going on: Mental health among teens is improving, according to new data out Monday from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The Youth Risk Behavior Survey began in 1991 and surveys high school students every two years about their physical activity, social media and substance use, nutrition and sleep habits, and mental health. Numbers have been improving since 2023, after hitting the lowest point in a decade in 2021, which experts believe was due to the pandemic. Teens in 2025 reported feeling less persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness and had fewer thoughts of suicide and suicide attempts. The number of teens drinking alcohol also dropped by more than 30%. Sports participation was up 6% from 2023, and teens said they’re eating more fruits and vegetables and drinking more water (must be all those designer water bottles).
Well, this is a relief: It is. Despite the nostalgia-veiled pressure campaign on parents to give their kids a ‘90s childhood, the study suggests teens are doing better now. While the CDC’s chief medical officer said the findings “align with the Make America Healthy Again initiative," experts credit public outreach and intervention programs for the improved numbers. But others warn the overall data doesn’t tell the whole story. For example, teens who identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual reported significantly more negative mental health outcomes than their heterosexual peers. The survey data also excludes any references to gender identity to align with President Donald Trump’s federal mandate to only recognize two genders. Also left out were socioeconomic factors that could affect teens' access to, among other things, fresh food. “Overall, we see things are getting better, but for who? Oftentimes, it’s the more advantaged groups,” one expert said.
