Survey shows improvements in youth mental health, decline in substance use
While the data indicates improvement, mental health remains a pressing concern in New Mexico, with 37% of students reporting persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2023.
Organ Mountain News report
SANTA FE - Encouraging findings from the 2023 New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey reveal progress in adolescent mental health and significant declines in substance use among high school students statewide.
The biennial survey, which gathered responses from nearly 18,000 students across 132 school districts, found a 17% decrease in the prevalence of persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness among high schoolers from 2021 to 2023. While the data indicates improvement, mental health remains a pressing concern, with 37% of students reporting such feelings in 2023.
“After years of troubling trends, this survey shows positive momentum in youth mental health and substance use in New Mexico,” said Dr. José A. Acosta, director of the New Mexico Department of Health’s Public Health Division. “The collaboration behind this comprehensive effort reflects the commitment of our state and communities to improving outcomes for young people.”
Substance use declines
The survey also found significant decreases in substance use compared to previous years:
- Cannabis use dropped by 37% since 2019.
- Alcohol consumption decreased by 40% since 2019.
- Electronic vaping product use fell by 44% since 2019.
Mental health highlights
In addition to the decline in persistent sadness or hopelessness, the survey reported:
- A 25% reduction in frequent mental distress since 2021.
- A 26% decrease in the number of students considering suicide since 2021.
- A 19% drop in suicide attempts since 2021.
Despite these gains, disparities persist. Girls were nearly twice as likely as boys to experience frequent mental distress, and LGBTQ+ students reported significantly higher rates of mental health challenges, including suicide attempts. Students experiencing homelessness were nearly five times more likely to misuse prescription opioids than their peers with stable housing.
Legislative presentation
Dr. Acosta will present the survey findings to the Legislative Health and Human Services Committee at 12:45 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 22, in room 307 of the New Mexico Capitol. The public and media are invited to attend.
Addressing disparities and building resilience
Efforts to support youth include initiatives like school-based health centers, coordinated suicide prevention programs and professional training for pediatricians and health providers through the New Mexico Access to Behavioral Health for Children program. The New Mexico Public Education Department also supports social-emotional learning opportunities statewide.
“This data is a call to action,” Acosta said. “While we celebrate the progress, we must continue working to address health disparities and ensure that all young people have access to the resources they need.”
About the survey
The NM-YRRS is part of the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System and assesses both risk behaviors and resiliency factors among New Mexico’s youth. Results from the 2023 survey will be available online in December at youthrisk.org.