Overview: Every child occasionally experiences being sad or feeling hopeless as a normal part of childhood. However, some children may feel persistently sad or uninterested in things that they used to enjoy or feel helpless/hopeless in situations they can change. When children feel persistent sadness and hopelessness, they may be diagnosed with depression which is a risk factor for suicide. In 2021, nearly one-third (30 percent) of students in grades 9-12 reported feeling sad or hopeless almost every day for two or more weeks in a row.

Vulnerable Populations: According to the CDC, more than half of LGBTQ+ students experience poor mental health during the past month. Looking at disparities among race and ethnicity, Hispanic and Multiracial students were more likely than students from other racial and ethnic groups to report persistent depressive symptoms. In regard to gender, almost 3 in 5 girls experienced persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in the past year.