A recent presentation to South Dakota’s Behavioral Health Advisory Council highlighted the increasing mental health struggles among high school students in the state.
Data revealed a growing number of students reporting prolonged sadness, with 35% in 2019 indicating feeling “sad almost every day for two or more weeks.”
The state’s suicide rates were also notably high, with South Dakota ranking second highest in teen suicides from 2018 to 2020.
In 2019, 23% of high schoolers had seriously considered suicide, while 12% attempted it, higher than the national average.
Contributing factors include increased screen time, sedentary lifestyles, and diminishing social connections.