Survey shows NC high school students back at pre-pandemic mental health levels

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The number of North Carolina high school students reporting mental health issues and alcohol and drug use have dropped to pre-pandemic levels, according to the latest biennial survey of student behavior.

Results from the 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, presented at Wednesday’s State Board of Education meeting, showed fewer students feeling depressed and considering suicide. The data was good news after the results from the survey in 2021 showed a sharp spike in teens reporting mental health issues.

“A lot of these numbers are back to pre-pandemic levels,” said Ellen Essick, the state Department of Public Instruction’s section chief for healthy schools. “That doesn’t mean that they’re better than they were many years ago. But we finally get back to that baseline that we had in 2019 before the pandemic.”

Despite the gains, Essick and state board members said there’s still room for improvement..

“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” said State Board chair Eric Davis. “This is better results., not nearly good enough for our state and students.”

Every two years during odd-numbered years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention partners with states to conduct the Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Participating states select random groups of high school and middle school students to answer the anonymous survey, which covers areas such as suicide, bullying, tobacco use and drug use.

The 2021 survey showed spikes in areas such as students considering suicide and feeling hopeless. The survey was given after students returned from receiving only limited amounts of in-person instruction because of COVID-19 pandemic concerns.

The 2021 survey highlighted what state health called a “behavioral health tsunami,” The News & Observer previously reported.

The results from the 2025 survey were much more positive, continuing a trend seen in the 2023 survey.

“So what do we see?” Essick said. “Progress in several areas. It’s real, and I’m excited. This is the first time I get to tell you good things in a long time.”

Essick credited the gains to steps made since the pandemic to address the mental health needs of students.

The middle school results haven’t been released yet by the CDC.

Among the mental health findings for high school students:

“We don’t want 10% of students making a plan to commit suicide,” Essick said. “But we are certainly glad to see those numbers on the down slope at this point.”

The survey results also showed major drops in alcohol and drug use. Among the findings:

“The 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey reflects meaningful progress, particularly in improving student safety and reducing several risky behaviors,” State Superintendent Mo Green said in a news release. “At the same time, the findings reinforce the need to help every student feel safe, connected and prepared to learn.

“In order to become the best public schools in the nation by 2030, we must continue to uplift progress while responding to the continued needs of students in our schools.”

This story was originally published August 5, 2026 at 4:09 PM with the headline “Survey shows NC high school students back at pre-pandemic mental health levels.”