October 12, 2026
2 min read
Key takeaways:
- In 2009, suicidal ideation began increasing among adolescents after years of declines.
- Technological, social and economic factors may explain the change, although more research is needed.
SAN DIEGO — Indicators of poor teen mental health like suicidal ideation began worsening around 2009 after years of improvements, possibly because of technological, social and economic factors, according to researchers.
The findings were presented at the AAP National Conference & Exhibition.
Although recent studies have traced short-term changes in suicidal thoughts, Niyati Sharma, a junior at Horseheads High School in Horseheads, New York, told Healio that she “wanted to understand how adolescent mental health has changed over time, not just what is happening today or has happened in the past 5 years.”
Sharma and colleagues analyzed data from the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) to identify potential mental, behavioral and academic factors associated with national fluctuations in suicidality and depression among high school students from 1991 to 2021 in the United States.
The researchers assessed several mental health outcomes, including suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, sadness or hopelessness, lack of sleep, obesity and academic grades.
From 1991 to 2009, data showed that suicidal ideation among adolescents decreased by 3.61% per year (P P P = .032).
“Most of the mental health indicators started worsening around the same time, and many of them have continued to worsen since then,” Sharma told Healio.
Additional primary outcomes also rose after 2009, including:
- Sadness/hopelessness: 2009-2017: APC, +1.71% (P = .046); 2017-2021: APC, +7.67% (P
- Inadequate sleep: 2013-2021: APC, +1.58% (P = .002); and
- Obesity: 2011-2021: APC, +2.68% (P
Students also experienced a decline in school performance from 2001 to 2019 (APC, –1.83%, P
Overall, the research suggests that behavioral and mental factors changed around 2009, according to Sharma.
“Around that time, major changes happened — like rapid growth of technology, social media, economic recession, etc. — that potentially changed how teenagers interacted with each other,” she said. “Those could be factors worth studying, but we cannot say that they caused the increase based on our data alone.”
Reflecting on the current high school climate, Sharma told Healio that students continue to encounter an evolving list of challenges, such as “school and academic expectations, friendships and relationships, family expectations, social media, and the pressure to fit in. These stressors can also build on each other, which can make things harder for some teenagers,” she said.
Sharma said further research is required to identify the context surrounding the sudden change observed in the analysis, but the data suggest a need to consider mental health in pediatric care.
“Pediatricians can make teenagers feel comfortable talking about their mental health,” she said. “Ask questions about how they are feeling, use screening tools and help connect them with support when they need it. Even starting the conversation can make a difference.”
For more information:
Niyati Sharma can be contacted at niyasharma790@gmail.com.
Sources/Disclosures
Source:
Sharma N, et al. A turning point in adolescent mental health in the United States: A 30-year analysis of U.S.
high school students using YRBSS data. Presented at: AAP National Conference & Exhibition; Oct. 2-6. 2026; San Diego.
Reference:
Disclosures:
Sharma reports no relevant financial disclosures.
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