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James Donaldson on Mental Health – Report: Teen Mental Health Is Improving, Despite Growing School Violence
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A new CDC report highlights slight improvements in teen mental health and concerning increases in school violence, bullying, and school refusal among high school students.
The mental health of U.S. high school students is trending upward after a decade of unprecedented depression, violence, and suicidality among adolescents. Still, the youth mental health crisis is far from over, as more teens are experiencing school-based violence and school absenteeism, according to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) comparing 10-year trends and data from the 2021-2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS).1
Among the 20,000 public and private high school students surveyed, 40% said they experienced persistent sadness or hopelessness in 2023, down from 42% in 2021. Suicidality rates also fell slightly: One-fifth of students seriously considered suicide, compared to 22% two years ago.
Survey results broken down by students’ sexual and gender identity revealed that depressive symptoms remained stable or declined in most subgroups:
65% of LGBTQ+ students experienced sadness or hopelessness, down from 69%.
53% of female students experienced sadness or hopelessness, down from 57%.
41% of LGBTQ+ students seriously considered suicide, down from 45%.
28% of male students experienced sadness or hopelessness, unchanged from 2021.
27% of teen girls seriously considered suicide, down from 30%.
14% of male students seriously considered suicide, unchanged from 2021.
The Mental Health Status of Girls
Though the changes appear small, these incremental decreases represent potentially significant changes in teen mental health, especially for girls. Just last year, the CDC reported that nearly 60% of teen girls “were suffering through an unprecedented wave of sadness and trauma,” which was double the rate reported a decade ago and twice the rate in boys.2
Girls with diagnosed and undiagnosed ADHD are at a much higher risk for depression, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and sexual violence than their neurotypical peers. According to the Berkeley Girls ADHD Longitudinal Study (BGALS), girls with combined type ADHD are three to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their neurotypical peers, and they are 2.5 times more likely to engage in non-suicidal self-injuring behavior.3
A 2022 ADDitude survey of 1,187 caregivers shared similar findings: Eighteen percent of girls with ADHD had engaged in self-harm within the past two or three years compared to 9% of boys.
“The emotional toll of ADHD on teen girls is profound — especially when it isn’t diagnosed early,” said Lotta Borg Skoglund, M.D., Ph.D., during the 2024 ADDitude webinar, “The Emotional Lives of Girls with ADHD.” “And, for teens who menstruate, we can’t ignore fluctuating hormones, which invariably affect emotions, behaviors, and functioning. Is it any wonder that so many teen girls and young women say that regulating emotions and energy levels are their biggest ADHD-related problems?”
“Being a teen girl sucks. Being a teen sucks. ADHD intensifies everything,” said an ADDitude reader from Kansas.
“Schools should do a better job acknowledging the needs of teen girls,” said an ADDitude reader from Florida. “There needs to be better support to accommodate their needs that filters into clubs, after-school sports, etc.”
The improved state of adolescent mental health, especially for girls, is encouraging, but it is no cause for celebration. “As seen in 2021, female students are faring more poorly than male students across almost all measures of substance use, experiences of violence, mental health, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors,” the CDC report stated.
Disparities persist among students who identify as (LGBTQ+). The report found that LGBTQ+ students still experience more violence, signs of poor mental health, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors than their male, cisgender, and heterosexual peers.
#James Donaldson notes: Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes. Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use. Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.#http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle Find out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundation website www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book, #CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy
“These data show that we’ve made some progress in tackling these issues in recent years, which proves that they are not insurmountable,” said Kathleen Ethier, Ph.D., director of the CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health. “However, there’s still much work ahead.”
Returning to school was a welcome relief for caregivers and students after the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in-person classes have created more opportunities for physical encounters — and consequently more school violence and bullying, the CDC says. From 2021 to 2023, bullying in school grew from 15% to 19%. In 2023, 16% of students experienced electronic bullying via text, Instagram, SnapChat, or other social media channels.
“School bullying remains a serious problem in U.S. schools, particularly for students with ADHD, autism, learning differences, and other comorbidities,” said Rosanna Breaux, Ph.D., during the 2023 ADDitude webinar, “Teen Bullying Solutions: Help for Neurodivergent Adolescents.”
In a 2022 ADDitude survey, 61% of more than 1,000 caregivers said their neurodivergent child was bullied at school. Kids were also bullied through social media (32%), on the school bus (30%), and via text messages (27%).
“My girl is anxious and worries about bullying, girls pranking her, and kids saying she is ‘fat,’” shared an ADDitude reader from South Carolina.
Upward trends in injuries with a weapon on school property and sexual violence among high school students are cause for concern. LGBTQ+ students reported significantly higher rates of sexual violence than their cisgender and heterosexual peers. Of the 9% of high school students who had ever been physically forced to have sexual intercourse, 17% identified as LGBTQ+ compared to 13% of female and 4% of male students. In addition, 11% of high school students said they were forced to perform sexual activities (including kissing, touching, etc.); of those, one-fifth identified as LGBTQ+.
Increases in School Refusal Behaviors
Alongside bullying and violence, rates of school avoidance have risen sharply as well. According to the CDC,
School absenteeism due to students feeling unsafe at school or traveling to and from school rose from 9% to 13%.
Female students who missed school because of safety concerns increased from 10% to 16%.
Male students who missed school because of safety concerns increased from 7% to 10%.
School refusal can begin with negative self-talk and quickly spiral to self-harm or suicidality. The long-term effects of school avoidance can lead to declining grades, peer alienation, and increased tension at home. “These struggles don’t go away,” Cooperman said. “They follow children as they become adults. We see increases in anxiety and depression and potential substance abuse as adults.”
“Our girls are not okay,” said an ADDitude reader from California. “My 11-year-old daughter with ADHD was the victim of sexual harassment at her school. As a result, she developed PTSD. She had extreme emotional dysregulation, experienced suicidal ideation, and refused to go to school out of fear. She has not returned to her school since.”
Cooperman recommends treating school refusal behaviors with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and that caregivers work collaboratively with their child’s school and therapist to develop a comprehensive treatment plan.
Mental Health Resources
The CDC recommends the following programs to help schools and communities improve adolescent health, well-being, and safety.
Contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
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