Key Takeaways
- Globally, past-year prevalence of anxiety disorders in 13-18 year olds is 7.1%
- 31.9% of US adolescents aged 13-18 had any anxiety disorder in past year
- In 2023 YRBS, 37% of US high school students experienced poor mental health most days
- In 2021, 42% of US high school girls felt persistently sad or hopeless, up from 32% in 2011
- Lifetime prevalence of major depressive disorder among US adolescents aged 13-18 is 11.3%
- 17.9% of US girls aged 12-17 had a major depressive episode in 2021
- Globally, 14% of 10-19 year olds experience mental health conditions, representing about 166 million adolescents
- In the US, 20.78% of youth aged 3-17 had any mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder in 2015-2018
- 16.5% of US youth aged 6-17 experienced a mental health disorder in 2016
- In 2023, 22% of US high school students seriously considered suicide
- Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 10-24 year olds globally
- 12.9% of US high school students attempted suicide in 2023
- In 2021, only 28% of US youth with major depression received treatment
- Globally, 75% of youth with mental disorders do not access treatment
- US children with MH disorders: 65% received no treatment in past year 2021
About one in six young people worldwide experiences mental health problems, with anxiety and depression rising since COVID-19.
Anxiety Statistics
Anxiety Statistics Interpretation
Depression Statistics
Depression Statistics Interpretation
Prevalence Rates
Prevalence Rates Interpretation
Suicide and Self-Harm
Suicide and Self-Harm Interpretation
Treatment and Access
Treatment and Access Interpretation
How We Rate Confidence
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
Julian Richter. (2026, February 13). Young People Mental Health Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/young-people-mental-health-statistics
Julian Richter. "Young People Mental Health Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/young-people-mental-health-statistics.
Julian Richter. 2026. "Young People Mental Health Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/young-people-mental-health-statistics.
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