Adolescents’ uptick in suicidal thoughts increased after 2009, 2010
The time period marks the start of an ongoing mental health crisis in American high school students
SAN DIEGO — Researchers believe broader societal changes beginning around 2009 to 2010 severely impacted the mental health of an entire generation of young people, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2026 National Conference & Exhibition Oct. 2-6, 2026, at the San Diego Convention Center.
In a 30-year analysis of data from the national Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, researchers found a significant increase in suicidal thoughts and attempts in teens after nearly two decades of previous downturns. The abstract, titled, “A Turning Point in Adolescent Mental Health in the United States: A 30-Year Analysis of U.S. High School Students Using YRBSS Data,” also found increased feelings of persistent sadness or hopelessness, rising rates of obesity and insufficient sleep. These factors also resulted in a steady decline in academic performance among teens.
“Our study identified a clear turning point in adolescent mental health around 2009-2010 across various mental health indicators like suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts, sadness, sleep, obesity, and academic performance,” said study author Niyati Sharma, who is a junior at Horseheads High School, Horseheads, NY.
“The most surprising finding was not simply that mental health worsened, but that all indicators changed around the same time.”
Researchers state that while the study doesn’t determine what is causing this shift, it does suggest that broader societal changes could be at play.
“While our study cannot determine what caused these changes, the coordinated shift suggests we may be observing the impact of broader societal changes rather than isolated problems and it deserve much closer investigation to protect the mental health of future generations,” Sharma stated.
By pinpointing a starting point of where these changes began, researchers hope to better identify factors contributing to today’s mental health crisis and allow researchers, educators, physicians, families, and policymakers to develop more effective and targeted prevention strategies.
Media Relations Contact: Saurabh Sharma MD, FACC, MHA, FASE, FACP, RPVI, saurabh.sharma@guthrie.org, 347-423-1168
Study author Niyati Sharma is scheduled to present her research, which is below, from 10 AM to 12 PM PDT on Saturday, Oct. 3 at the Marriott.
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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit www.aap.org. Reporters can access the meeting program and other relevant meeting information through the AAP meeting website at http://www.aapexperience.org/
Program Name: Call for Abstracts
Submission Type: Council on School Health
Abstract Title: A Turning Point in Adolescent Mental Health in the United States: A 30-Year Analysis of U.S. High School Students Using YRBSS Data
Saurabh Sharma
Horseheads, NY, United States
10/03/2026 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Adolescent mental health indicators in the United States have shown substantial fluctuation over the past three decades. While recent reports describe rising rates of suicidality and depressive symptoms, long-term temporal patterns remain incompletely characterized. We examined national trends to identify potential inflection points in adolescent mental, behavioral, and academic indicators.
We conducted a repeated cross-sectional trend analysis using nationally representative Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) data from 1991–2021, comprising U.S. high school students in grades 9–12. Primary outcomes included suicidal ideation (considered suicide), attempted suicide, persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, insufficient sleep, obesity, and school grades. Joinpoint regression analysis was performed by a statistician to identify statistically significant changes in the directions of the trend and to estimate Annual Percent Change (APC) within each outcome. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05.
The number of high school students who had suicidal ideation (considered suicide) declined significantly from 1991–2009 (APC −3.61%, p< 0.001) but rapidly increased from 2009 to 2021 (APC +3.66%, p< 0.001) (Fig 1). Attempted suicide rates increased significantly after 2009 (APC +3.42%, p=0.032) (Fig 2). Sadness/Hopelessness increased modestly from 2009 to 2017 (APC +1.71%, p=0.046) and accelerated sharply from 2017 to 2021 (APC +7.67%, p< 0.001) (Fig 3). Insufficient sleep increased after 2013 (APC +1.58%, p=0.002)(Fig 4), and obesity increased after 2011 (APC +2.68%, p< 0.001) (Fig 5). Academic performance (Grades) declined steadily from 2001–2019 (APC −1.83%, p< 0.001) (Fig 6).
Multiple adolescent mental health indicators demonstrated inflection points beginning approximately 2009 to 2010, suggesting a broad, rapid shift in adolescent mental health. This temporal transition parallels the rapid expansion of digital connectivity and social media engagement, the 2008 economic recession, evolving academic pressures, and changes in healthcare access. Although causality cannot be inferred, further investigation is warranted to better understand how these social and environmental factors are associated with shifts in adolescent mental health trajectories.
JoinPoint Regression analysis showing Annual Percent Change in Mental Health Indicators and Inflection points in the Trajectories.
Subject of Research
People
Article Title
A Turning Point in Adolescent Mental Health in the United States: A 30-Year Analysis of U.S. High School Students Using YRBSS Data
Article Publication Date
2-Oct-2026
Childhood neglect may increase the risk of suicide attempts
image:
Noémi Szeifert, clinical psychologist at the Szent Rókus Health Center of Semmelweis University and the first author of the study
view moreCredit: Photo: Márta Csorba
Researchers at Semmelweis University examined the connection between childhood trauma and adult suicide risk among 300 psychiatric inpatients. According to a study published in the European Journal of Psychotraumatology, both emotional and physical neglect may be associated with repeated suicide attempts. While previous Hungarian and international studies have mainly focused on the consequences of physical and sexual abuse, the role of different forms of neglect has received less attention.
Childhood abuse and neglect, as well as suicidal behavior, are major public health concerns, and numerous previous studies have confirmed the connection between them. However, less is known about how specific forms of childhood trauma relate to repeated suicide attempts. The researchers also examined whether childhood trauma differed between patients who had attempted suicide once and those who had made multiple attempts.
Among the 300 psychiatric inpatients included in the study, emotional neglect was the most common form of childhood trauma (93%), and over 90 percent of the participants reported at least two types of childhood trauma. The study found that different types of trauma frequently occurred together, and their effects may add up. Furthermore, a higher degree of physical neglect was associated with a greater likelihood of repeated suicide attempts. Because the study included psychiatric inpatients, the results cannot be generalized to the wider population.
“Our results show that neglect may have serious and long-term consequences, so its significance should not be underestimated,” stated Noémi Szeifert, clinical psychologist at the Szent Rókus Health Center of Semmelweis University and the first author of the study.
Neglect occurs when a child's basic physical or emotional needs are persistently unmet. Emotional neglect means a prolonged lack of emotional support and a sense of security, while physical neglect refers to the continuous failure to provide for the child's basic physical needs, such as proper nutrition, clothing, or healthcare.
At the same time, the study notes that a direct cause-and-effect relationship cannot be established between childhood trauma and later suicidal behavior. Suicidal behavior is a complex phenomenon influenced by the combination of biological, psychological, and social factors. Childhood trauma may increase long-term vulnerability and can later be associated with mental health disorders and substance misuse. However, these later consequences could also be influenced by numerous protective factors, such as secure family and social relationships.
“While our study supports the connection between early traumas and adult suicide risk, further research is needed to uncover exactly what factors help explain this connection,” said Dr. Xénia Gonda, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Clinical Psychology at Semmelweis University, the last author of the study.
Childhood abuse and neglect do not always have clear, easily recognizable signs, but certain changes may be warning signs even if the child does not talk about what they are experiencing. These include a significant or persistent change in behavior, increased anxiety, withdrawal, or avoiding activities they previously enjoyed, including social activities and community events. These signs alone do not prove that a child is experiencing abuse or neglect, but they might indicate that the child is struggling and may need help.
However, abuse and neglect often remain hidden because many victims are afraid to speak about their experiences or worry about the consequences of doing so. According to a previous Hungarian estimate, only one in thirty cases of child abuse or neglect is reflected in official statistics.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please seek immediate support from a local crisis or mental health service.
Journal
European Journal of Psychotraumatology
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