Teen depression, suicide rates decline

A new federal report shows a decline in depression and suicidal behaviors among U.S. teenagers between 2021 and 2024. The findings come from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, an annual study conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The percentage of adolescents aged 12 to 17 who experienced serious suicidal thoughts fell from nearly 13% in 2021 to 10% in 2024, according to the report. Suicide attempts in this age group also dropped slightly, from 3.6% to 2.7%. The prevalence of major depressive episodes among teens decreased from 21% to 15% over the same period.

Despite this progress, the report noted that treatment gaps remain significant, with only about 60% of teens with a recent episode of depression seeking treatment. Additionally, an estimated 700,000 adolescents attempted suicide in the past year.
Among adults, the picture was more stable. The rates of suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts remained largely unchanged between 2021 and 2024.

This is the first annual report published since the Trump administration dismissed the scientific team overseeing the survey earlier this year. The survey, which has been conducted for decades, interviews over 70,000 people aged 12 and older across the U.S. each year.

Read more: National Survey on Drug Use and Health 

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