RALEIGH, N.C. — Mental health among teens in North Carolina is improving.
After nearly a decade in which more and more high school and middle school students surveyed for the semi-annual CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey reported feeling sad or hopeless, both metrics dropped. Fewer students reported those feelings when surveyed in 2023.
In the previous survey, done in 2021, 43% of high schoolers and 35% of middle schoolers reported feeling sad or hopeless. In 2023, 39% of high schoolers and 32% of middle schoolers said the same.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdowns, remote school and health worries combined led to some of worst levels of mental health ever recorded in kids.
If you or a loved one are facing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, there is help readily available. You can call Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat with them online. There are also resources in North Carolina available here and in South Carolina available here.
WCNC Charlotte is committed to reporting on the many issues facing the communities we serve. We tell the stories of people working to solve persistent social problems. We examine how problems can be solved or addressed to improve the quality of life and make a positive difference. WCNC Charlotte is seeking solutions for you. Send your tips or questions to newstips@wcnc.com.
WCNC Charlotte To Go is a daily news and weather podcast you can listen to so you can start your day with the team at WCNC Charlotte.
SUBSCRIBE: Apple Podcasts || Spotify || Pandora || TuneIn || Google Podcasts || iHeart
All of WCNC Charlotte's podcasts are free and available for both streaming and download. You can listen now on Android, iPhone, Amazon, and other internet-connected devices. Join us from North Carolina, South Carolina, or on the go anywhere.