Teen Mental Health Facts
Are you concerned about your child’s mental well-being? You’re not alone. Learn more about teen mental health facts today.
Call Hillcrest Adolescent Treatment Center to get help for your teen.
Are you concerned about your child’s mental well-being? You’re not alone. Learn more about teen mental health facts today.
Call Hillcrest Adolescent Treatment Center to get help for your teen.
Teen mental health facts can help you understand your teen’s behaviors, moods, and emotions. For parents, learning facts about mental health disorders can put things into context—and also separate fact from fiction. Sometimes, mental health disorders in teens are dismissed as “going through a phase,” “seeking attention,” or “being difficult.”
Hillcrest Adolescent Treatment Center is here to guide you toward understanding your teen’s mental, emotional, and behavioral health. Contact us today to learn more about our California teen treatment center.
The Scope of Mental Health Disorders in Teens in the US
According to the 2023 National Survey of Children’s Health: Adolescent Mental and Behavioral Health, “more than 5.3 million adolescents ages 12-17 years (20.3% of adolescents) had a current, diagnosed mental or behavioral health condition.”
This means that about 1 in every 5 teens in the US had a mental or behavioral health diagnosis in 2023. Now, these numbers only reflect those teens with an official diagnosis—the real number is likely higher than this.
More specifically, the survey found that:
- 16.1% of teens had an anxiety disorder
- 8.4% of teens had depression
- 6.3% of teens had a behavioral or conduct disorder
- Female teens had greater occurrences of anxiety and depression compared to males
- Male teens had more conduct and behavioral disorders than females
[Note that some teens have more than one diagnosis, also called “co-occurring disorders” or “comorbidities”]
Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published trends from 2013-2023 in their Youth Risk Behavior Survey, finding that, among high school students in 2023:
- 40% experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness
- 29% experienced poor mental health
- 20% seriously considered attempting suicide
- 16% made a suicide plan
- 9% attempted suicide
- 2% were injured in a suicide attempt, requiring medical treatment
The CDC also found that “[f]emale and LGBTQ+ students were more likely than their peers to experience persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, poor mental health, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.”
Therefore, while the number of teens with a diagnosis is fairly high, the CDC data shows that a significant number of teens are struggling—even if they don’t have a diagnosis.
The Scope of Mental Health Disorders in Teens in the US
According to the 2023 National Survey of Children’s Health: Adolescent Mental and Behavioral Health, “more than 5.3 million adolescents ages 12-17 years (20.3% of adolescents) had a current, diagnosed mental or behavioral health condition.”
This means that about 1 in every 5 teens in the US had a mental or behavioral health diagnosis in 2023. Now, these numbers only reflect those teens with an official diagnosis—the real number is likely higher than this.
More specifically, the survey found that:
- 16.1% of teens had an anxiety disorder
- 8.4% of teens had depression
- 6.3% of teens had a behavioral or conduct disorder
- Female teens had greater occurrences of anxiety and depression compared to males
- Male teens had more conduct and behavioral disorders than females
[Note that some teens have more than one diagnosis, also called “co-occurring disorders” or “comorbidities”]
Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published trends from 2013-2023 in their Youth Risk Behavior Survey, finding that, among high school students in 2023:
- 40% experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness
- 29% experienced poor mental health
- 20% seriously considered attempting suicide
- 16% made a suicide plan
- 9% attempted suicide
- 2% were injured in a suicide attempt, requiring medical treatment
The CDC also found that “[f]emale and LGBTQ+ students were more likely than their peers to experience persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, poor mental health, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.”
Therefore, while the number of teens with a diagnosis is fairly high, the CDC data shows that a significant number of teens are struggling—even if they don’t have a diagnosis.
The Scope of Substance Abuse in Teens in the US
The CDC also published data on substance use among youth in the US, finding that:
- “15% of high school students reported having ever used select illicit or injection drugs—cocaine, inhalants, heroin, methamphetamines, hallucinogens, or ecstasy.”
- “14% of students reported misusing prescription opioids.”
These statistics on teen substance abuse are alarming due to the potential long-term health consequences. For one thing, injection drug use (i.e., using needles) puts teens at a higher risk of contracting HIV. In addition, youth drug use is correlated to sexual risk behaviors as well as sexual assault.
Moreover, teens who abuse drugs or alcohol are more likely to develop an addiction, which may continue through adulthood.
While not every teen who uses substances will become addicted, recreational substance use as an adolescent is highly correlated with having a substance use disorder (SUD) later in life. This is because the teenage brain is still developing. Therefore, regular substance use can alter the development of the brain, creating a reliance on drugs or alcohol.
Lastly, substance use in teens often leads to poor physical and mental health—even developing co-occurring disorders.
The Scope of Substance Abuse in Teens in the US
The CDC also published data on substance use among youth in the US, finding that:
- “15% of high school students reported having ever used select illicit or injection drugs—cocaine, inhalants, heroin, methamphetamines, hallucinogens, or ecstasy.”
- “14% of students reported misusing prescription opioids.”
These statistics on teen substance abuse are alarming due to the potential long-term health consequences. For one thing, injection drug use (i.e., using needles) puts teens at a higher risk of contracting HIV. In addition, youth drug use is correlated to sexual risk behaviors as well as sexual assault.
Moreover, teens who abuse drugs or alcohol are more likely to develop an addiction, which may continue through adulthood.
While not every teen who uses substances will become addicted, recreational substance use as an adolescent is highly correlated with having a substance use disorder (SUD) later in life. This is because the teenage brain is still developing. Therefore, regular substance use can alter the development of the brain, creating a reliance on drugs or alcohol.
Lastly, substance use in teens often leads to poor physical and mental health—even developing co-occurring disorders.
Teen Mental Health Statistics by Condition
The following are teen mental health statistics by the most commonly occurring conditions:
- 31.9% of adolescents have an anxiety disorder [NIMH]
- 20.1% of youth aged 12-17 had at least one major depressive episode in 2021 [NIMH]
- Among children and teens in the US, 3%-15% of girls and 1%-6% of boys develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [National Center for PTSD]
- An estimated 1% of kids and teens have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) [International OCD Foundation]
Teen Substance Abuse Statistics
The following are 2025 teen substance abuse statistics from the University of Michigan’s Monitoring the Future Survey:
- Alcohol abuse: 11.2% of 8th graders; 23.5% of 10th graders; 41.1% of 12th graders
- Cannabis (marijuana) abuse: 7.6% of 8th graders; 15.6% of 10th graders; 25.7% of 12th graders
- Cocaine abuse: 0.6% of 8th graders; 0.7% of 10th graders; 1.4% of 12th graders
- Heroin abuse: 0.5% of 8th graders; 0.5% of 10th graders; 0.9% of 12th graders
- Any prescription drug misuse: 9.5% of 12th graders [no data on 8th or 10th graders]
- Any illicit drug absuse: 12.9% of 8th graders; 19.1% of 10th graders; 31.7% of 12th graders
[Note: the CDC has published a more readable version of these findings].
Factors That Influence Teen Mental Health
The following are factors that influence teen mental health:
- Family dynamics (boundaries, expectations, communication, etc.)
- Genetics (teens are more likely to have a mental disorder if a family member also has one)
- Youth in low-income families are more likely to struggle with anxiety and depression
- Exposure to trauma in childhood, also known as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
- Bullying (either in-person or cyberbullying) can negatively impact a teen’s mental health
- Teens living in violent areas or living through natural disasters are more likely to develop trauma-related disorders
- Childhood neglect or abuse
- Substance abuse can alter a teen’s brain chemistry, causing a co-occurring mental health disorder
- Lack of resources for social development or mental health treatment
Teens identifying as LGBTQ are more likely to develop mental health disorders due to discrimination (45% of LGBTQ youth have seriously concerned suicide in 2022)
Access to Resources for Adolescents
The following are resources for adolescents who struggle with their mental health, as well as, resources for their parents and family:
Supportive Mental Health Treatment for Teens
At Hillcrest Adolescent Treatment Center, we provide supportive mental health treatment for teens at the inpatient and outpatient levels of care:
- Residential Treatment: Our residential center provides inpatient treatment for teens with mental and behavioral health disorders. During residential treatment, teens will live within our homelike facility among peers struggling with similar issues. This environment removes your teen from distractions so they can focus on getting better.
- Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP): Our PHP program is an outpatient level of care that offers significant support for teens leaving residential treatment. Teens can live at home or in a supportive housing program during PHP. Also called “day treatment,” PHP programs offer 6-8 hours of treatment for 5 days each week.
Regardless of which program your teen is in, we also ensure that teens don’t fall behind in their schooling. Our educational program mimics school instruction, however, teachers are trained to help teens develop healthy communication and coping skills along with classroom instruction.
Find Help for Your Teen Today
If you believe your teen is struggling with a mental health disorder, we’re here to help. Hillcrest Adolescent Treatment Center in Agoura Hills, California, provides evidence-based treatment for teens who struggle. In addition, we support families and parents of teens attending our treatment center.
Contact us today to find mental health treatment for your teen today.
