Hard data around mental health is bringing educators’ concerns about the severity of students’ COVID-era struggles with anxiety, thoughts of suicide, and racism into stark relief.
K-12 leaders, of course, were already ramping up efforts to support students’ social-emotional wellness prior to 2020 by adding counseling staff, building mental health into everyday instruction and developing more inclusive curriculums. Then, lockdown disconnected students from school-based services, their teachers and their friends while they also began to worry about their family’s health and financial outlook.
Consequently, more than a third of students said they suffered poor mental health during COVID and almost half experienced daily feelings of sadness or hopelessness that prevented them from engaging in regular activities, according to a batch of new CDC reports on the pandemic’s impact on teens. Perhaps even more disturbing, 20% of high school students said they had “seriously considered” suicide and 9% had made an attempt during the previous year, according to a CDC survey conducted between January and July 2021. Gay, lesbian, and bisexual students were most likely to report thinking about or attempting suicide.
“Evidence from previous outbreaks suggests that the pandemic might have long-term consequences for youth mental health and well-being and be associated with potential increases in youth depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, which underscores the urgent need to address mental health needs among youths,” the CDC says in its report.
Perceived racism—which the CDC defines as when a student feels mistreated because of their race or ethnicity—also negatively affected mental health during the pandemic. More than one-third of high school students reported experiencing perceived racism, with the highest rates among Asian (64%), Black (55%), and multiracial students (55%). Teens who suffered perceived racism were also more likely to report poor mental health, difficulty concentrating, and not feeling close to anyone at school.
Yet, nearly half of the students surveyed said they did have close relationships at school even as a large majority could only connect virtually with family, friends and others during the pandemic. Those who felt close to someone at school or who connected with people virtually were less likely to report poor mental health or thinking about suicide.
Here is a deeper look at students’ pandemic experiences:
- Female students were more likely to suffer poor mental health and persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.
- Black students were least likely to say they felt close to someone at school or online. Male and white students were more likely to report strong school relationships.
- Heterosexual students reported stronger school relationships than did LGBTQ students. However, sexual identity did not have an impact on virtual connections.
- Suicide attempts were higher among American Indian and Alaska Native students than White, Black, Hispanic, or Asian students.
- Suicidal thoughts were more prevalent among White students than Black or Asian students.
- More than half of students said they were emotionally abused by a parent and had difficulty completing their schoolwork. About 10% reported physical abuse.
- One in four students reported experiencing hunger or economic insecurity
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Of course, mental health issues were surging before lockdown. Between 2009 and 2019, high school students reported significant increases in persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness (26% to 37%), suicidal thoughts (14% to 19%), and suicide attempts (6% to 9%), the CDC said.
As COVID ebbs, K-12 leaders and their teams should redouble outreach that encourages students to seek help when they are struggling with mental health, racism and related issues. Educators can also recommit to forging strong relationships with and between students. Getting students to participate in school or community activities also builds teens’ sense of connectedness, boosts academic achievement and can reduce risky behaviors.
And as for those risky behaviors: One in three students who had previously used alcohol or other drugs reported using these substances more often during the pandemic. Overall, just over 30% of high school students reported abusing prescription opioids or using alcohol, tobacco or marijuana during COVID, the CDC said.
