Youth Suicidal Ideation Hit Record High in 2025, Mental Health America Data Shows
Mental Health America reported that 51% of people under 18 who took a depression screening on its website in 2025 reported frequent thoughts of suicide, the highest rate since the program began in 2014. The data was released at the start of Mental Health Awareness Month in May 2026. Advocates say the numbers point to an urgent need for more prevention resources for young people.
Mental Health America released data on May 1, 2026, showing that youth suicidal ideation reached its highest recorded level in 2025.
Among the roughly 97,000 people under 18 who took a depression screening on the organization's website last year, 51% reported frequent thoughts of suicide. That is the highest rate since the program launched in 2014.
The data was released at the start of Mental Health Awareness Month, which runs through May.
Mental Health America also found that 79% of all screeners, across all age groups, were at risk for a mental health condition. Of those, 56% had never received treatment.
The most common factors contributing to mental health problems, according to the screening data, were low self-esteem or self-image (50%), relationship problems (38%), and loneliness or isolation (34%). Concerns about excessive internet use, including social media and "doomscrolling," were cited by 40% of those taking a behavioral addiction screen.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness adopted the theme "Stigma Grows In Silence. Healing Begins In Community" for Mental Health Awareness Month 2026. The organization said fear of losing jobs, social standing, or family relationships often stops people from seeking help.
About one in five Americans experiences a diagnosable mental disorder each year, according to NAMI. Despite that, only about half of those with mental illnesses receive treatment.
For immediate help, people can call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Mental Health America offers free, anonymous screenings for depression, ADHD, anxiety, and addiction at its website. The organization said it plans to use the 2025 data to push for more funding for youth mental health programs at the state and federal level.
