2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Release and May Observances

May 2, 2023

Dear Colleague,

May marks the observance of two important awareness months for adolescent health – National Adolescent Health Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. To support these issues, CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) will continue to promote the best available data on the challenges young people face and discuss solutions to these challenges. In February, we released the Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report:  2011-2021 to highlight key data trends on adolescent health behaviors and experiences. The data brought into clear focus the level of distress many youth, especially girls and LGBQ+ youth, are experiencing. More than 40% of high school students experienced depressive symptoms in the past year, 18% of female students experienced sexual violence, and 22% of LGBQ+ students attempted suicide.

Last week, we released the full 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) dataset and a Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Supplement with further analysis of YRBS data. The surveillance supplement consists of eleven brief reports focused on emerging issues in adolescent health, including the impact of important protective factors, like school connectedness and parental monitoring, on adolescent health and well-being.

Although the data on experiences of violence, poor mental health, and suicidality are distressing and the underlying causes of these experiences are complicated, a few hopeful messages come through in these new analyses. We know that social isolation and loneliness can significantly impact young people’s health, but the data also show the power of connection. Previous research on school connectedness indicates that young people who feel connected fare better during adolescence and well into adulthood. Our 2021 YRBS analyses confirm this. Young people who felt close to others at school had lower rates of every risk behavior and experience included in the analyses – better mental health, less substance use, less experience of sexual violence, less sexual risk behavior, and fewer concerns about safety at school or on the way to school.

These 2021 YRBS findings continue to inform the enormous role that schools play in the lives of young people. At the same time, we know the pressure schools and their staff are under now, especially as they are coping with the mental and behavioral challenges of their students. Building school connectedness through evidence-based strategies can help alleviate some of that burden. We can reverse the trends we are seeing in the data by partnering with schools to

• provide teachers training on managing students’ mental and behavioral health needs in their classrooms,
• engage students in programs that get them involved in activities and provide mentorship, and
• create environments that are inclusive for all.

CDC’s What Works in Schools program supports local school districts in putting these practices in place, while also supporting quality health education and connecting youth to needed services. When schools implement the What Works in Schools program, we see improvements in student mental health and reductions in substance use, sexual risk behavior, and experiences of violence.

This important work was recently recognized as a part of President Biden’s continued focus on strengthening mental and behavioral health. CDC appreciates being recognized in the President’s Budget proposal which highlighted an opportunity to fund 75 school districts and all 50 states, greatly increasing the number of students who attend schools that have the What Works in Schools program.

We know how hard educators, schools, and partners work to support the Nation’s young people. Hearing their stories about their resilience and determination confirm that there could be no more important work. Thank you for all that you do for the health and well-being of our young people. We look forward to partnering with you throughout the month of May to promote adolescent health.

Sincerely,

/Kathleen Ethier/

Kathleen Ethier, PhD
Director
Division of Adolescent and School Health
National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/

/Jonathan Mermin/

Jonathan H. Mermin, MD, MPH
RADM and Assistant Surgeon General, USPHS
Director
National Center for HIV, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Stay connected: @DrMerminCDC and Connections