Alcohol, past 30 days
17.4% among students with high depressive symptoms — 3.6× the rate of non-depressed peers (4.8%).
Mental Health
Depression, suicide risk, and help-seeking
Mental-health indicators eased modestly in 2025 but remain the most concerning signal in the survey. The data also points to clear leverage points for schools and coalitions.
267,379 students · official baseline
Persistent sadness has eased — but stayed elevated
So sad/hopeless for 2+ weeks that stopped usual activities
Percent of students, by grade and year
n = 267,3792021 · 2023 · 2025% of students
Source: PAYS 2021, 2023, 2025 statewide
Where students turn for support
Who students talked to when sad, lonely, or worried
All grades combined, 2025
n = 267,3792025% of students
Source: 2025 PAYS statewide
Bullying multiplies risk
Of students who were bullied in the past year, 45.1% report 2+ weeks of sadness (vs. 16.6% who weren't), 29.7% seriously considered suicide, and 9.7% attempted it.
Peers matter most — adults at school are the gap
Friends (40.6%) and parents (36.0%) are the top outlets. Only 7.3% of distressed students talked to an adult at school. Building those bridges is high-leverage Tier 1 work.
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Risk & protective factors for the underlying drivers, and school climate for belonging and bullying data.
Depression and substance use are tightly linked
Cannabis, past 30 days
9.9% with high depressive symptoms vs. 2.0% without — about 5× higher.
Cigarettes, past 30 days
6.3% with high depressive symptoms vs. 0.8% without — about 8× higher.
Subgroup spotlight
Distress is concentrated in identifiable groups — and adult support gaps widen the same lines.
LGBQ+ students
47.6%
Felt sad or hopeless 2+ weeks vs. 28.4% of straight peers
Girls, 10th grade
41.2%
Seriously considered suicide measure vs. 13.9% overall
Students bullied in past year
45.1%
2+ weeks sadness vs. 16.6% of non-bullied peers
Subgroup cells with n < 30 are suppressed. See methodology.