What Parents Need to Know

When it comes to teens’ mental health, whether things are improving or declining appears to depend on who you ask. Recent data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) suggests that the prevalence of depression and suicidal thoughts among teens has declined since 2021, even though access and stigma remains a problem. The report showed that the incidence of serious suicidal thoughts in adolescents ages 12-to-17 fell from approximately 13 percent in 2021 to ten percent in 2024. Likewise, the prevalence of suicide attempts among teens fell from 3.6 percent to 2.7 percent, and the number of teens reporting a major depressive episode in the past year dropped from 21 percent to 15 percent.

However, a CDC report earlier this year contradicted this result, finding that teen depression was up by 60 percent — a number that shocked many mental health professionals. An analysis of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report published by the CDC in 2024 appears to confirm the grim state of teen mental health, reporting that 40 percent of high school students report persistent sadness/hopelessness, and 20 percent seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year.

The conflicting findings are not only confusing, but leave parents of teenagers without an accurate snapshot of the environment in which they are raising their kids. In an effort to bring clarity to the confusion, SheKnows spoke to the experts to help parents not only understand the state of teen mental health in 2025 but also determine the best path forward for them and their teens.

How to Understand The Conflicting Reports

When one government report says one thing and another says something entirely contradictory, it can be hard to know what to believe. Or to believe anything. But according to Aja Chavez, Executive Director of Adolescent Services at AMFM Healthcare, “It’s not uncommon to see different data sets tell slightly different stories, especially when they use different timeframes or methodologies.”

A longer timeframe, like the one used by the CDC which covers a decade from 2013–2014 to 2021–2023, captures a long-term snapshot of teens and mental health. The NSDUH report, on the other hand, covers a shorter period from 2021 to 2024. When looked at with a focus on time frames, it appears the reports can “coexist, says Shelley Qualtieri, Owner & Founder at Shelly Qualtieri & Associates, and reveal a long-term rise and a recent dip,.

A close look at the methodologies used by both studies also shows significant differences. The National Health & Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which was used by the CDC, captures depression symptoms via the PHQ-9 (Patient Health Questionnaire-9, a common screening tool for depression) over the past two weeks. The NSDUH, on the other hand, focuses on “major depressive episodes,” which is defined very specifically and is found if the respondent (1) had at least one period of two weeks or longer within the past year where they felt depressed most of the day nearly every day, and (2) had problems with basic daily tasks like sleeping, eating, or concentrating, or had recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation.

Between the different time frames and different methodologies, the experts agree that the reports can both be accurate.

“Both stats are true—they’re just looking from different angles,” Charde Hollins, LCSW-S and CEO/Founder of Relevant Connections, tells SheKnows. “The NSDUH data reflects short-term, self-reported symptoms, while the CDC’s long-term data captures clinical diagnoses over time.”

If you’re confused by the data, you’re not alone. However, the reports do tell us one important thing: “teen mental health remains a serious concern, and even if some numbers are improving, the overall emotional burden on young people is still very real and very present,” says Chavez.

What Are The Experts Seeing In Practice?

Reports and surveys and data can be helpful, but to truly understand the state of teen mental health it’s important to know what the experts working with teens are noticing in their practice. Most of them have noticed a shift, both for the better and the worse.

Dr. Erica Rozmid, a board-certified behavioral and clinical psychologist and founder of Clarity CBT & DBT Center, told SheKnows that — contrary to the latest data from the NSDUH — she’s seeing more teenagers who are experiencing depression. Concerningly, she also notes the rise in mental health concerns among tweens, telling SheKnows that “we are getting bombarded with referrals on suicidal 8 and 9 year olds.”

Chavez notes a similar shift among the adolescents in her practice. “[M]any [teens] are still overwhelmed, and I’m seeing higher levels of stress around academic pressure, identity, and social comparison.”

While these shifts in the wrong direction are concerning, all the experts we spoke to noted a bright spot: a shift toward greater openness. “More teens are willing to talk about their emotions, especially anxiety and depression, and they’re becoming more informed about mental health in general,” says Chavez. “There’s more awareness and visibility around mental health now, thanks to social media, schools, and even peers. That’s helping some teens speak up earlier.”

Niloufar Esmaeilpour, Founder at Lotus Therapy & Counselling Centre, highlights a similar positive change, observing that since the pandemic, she’s seen more schools and parents open to discussing mental health, teens being more comfortable reaching out for help, and more resources becoming available for teens. “I’ve also seen a rise in parents proactively seeking therapy for their children after noticing warning signs, which is an important cultural shift,” she says.

The lingering impact of the pandemic was a common theme among the experts who highlighted both the post-pandemic anxiety and the shift toward more awareness of mental health struggles.

What Can Parents Do?

When the data is conflicting and experts are seeing shifts in both directions, parents can be left unsure of how to move forward, especially when “absolute levels remain high,” says Qualtieri, who underscores that the prevalence of major depression is at 15.4 percent and “only about 39-40 percent of those with depression received counseling in the past year.”

Early intervention is key, says Dr. Rozmid, who urges parents not to wait until there is a crisis.

“Parents should know that their child may be struggling even if everything looks ‘fine’ on the outside,” says Chavez, who encourages parents to “check in regularly, listen without immediately jumping into problem-solving, and make mental health support feel like a normal part of growing up rather than a crisis response.” Normalizing mental health struggles means creating a space for teens to talk and validating their feelings without judgment. They should know they aren’t alone and that help is available.

In addition to judgment-free, safe spaces for teens, Esmaeilpour encourages parents to know the warning signs of chronic mental health issues, noting that the sooner they are noticed, the sooner action can be taken. These signs “include interrupted patterns of sleep, appetite shifts, or social functioning, unexplained academic dips, or irritable behavior.”

And of course, parents should bring in a therapist if they or their teen needs additional support. “Even short-term support can make a huge difference,” notes Chavez.

The Good News And The Bad News

The ultimate takeaway for parents of teens is this: the state of teens and mental health looks different in 2025 than it has in previous years. Teens are still at risk, still under pressure, still acclimating to a post-pandemic world and the period of isolation that preceded it, but they’re also more open to talking about mental health and have more resources available to them at school and at home.

Parents — and anyone who works with teens — should acknowledge the emerging gains while remaining vigilant and investing in support systems for youth. A “dual-approach,” says Qualtieri.

Investing in support systems is an idea echoed by Hollins, who notes that “if resources are cut, if we go back to treating mental health as optional—we risk undoing everything we’ve gained. And it’s not just a policy risk. It’s lives. Real teens. Real families. Real futures. We’ve seen what works. Now’s the time to keep pushing forward—not pulling back.”

Between the conflicting data and the concerning observations from therapists, parents may be left feeling discouraged about the state of teen mental health in 2025, but it’s important to keep in mind the good news—the overall trend toward more conversation, more support, and more reaching out before the crisis becomes too big. Because the truth is, raising teens is a difficult job, particularly in 2025, and any good news, any shift in the right direction, is one that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Before you go, check out our favorite mental health apps: