Emerging
Practices that show potential to achieve desirable public health outcomes in a specific real-life setting and produce early results that are consistent with the objectives of the activities and thus indicate effectiveness.

Mental Health, Suicidality, and Connectedness Among High School Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic – Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey, United States, January-June 2021

Jones, S.E., Ethier, K.A., Hertz, M., DeGue, S., Le, V.D., Thornton, J., Lim, C., Dittus, P., Geda, S.

Release Date:

Summary Report/Recommendations

Data Collection and Analysis
Organizational Change/ Development
Policy Change/ Development
Tools Included
Outside U.S.
Network of people

Partnerships and Collaboration

Data from the Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (AMES) was used by CDC to assess 9th-12th grade student behaviors and experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. The prevalence of poor mental health and suicidality was high across students of all sex, sexual identity, and racial and ethnic groups; however, poor mental health, persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors were less prevalent among those who felt close to persons at school and were virtually connected with others during the pandemic. The mental health of youth might be improved via strategies that improve connections with others at home, in the community, and at school.

Resource Details

Outcomes of Interest

Capacity Building

Priority Population(s)

People With a Mental Illness, Youth and Young Adults

Setting(s) of Implementation

School

Geographic Area of Implementation

Implementation Period

2021