New Findings: Student Mental Health and Safety Improve
Pennsylvania students are reporting improvements in mental health and feelings of safety at school, according to findings from the 2025 Pennsylvania Youth Survey (PAYS), highlighted in an October 2, 2026, state announcement. Conducted in fall 2025, the survey collected 267,379 valid responses from students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12 across 1,064 schools.
Among participating students, 76% reported good overall mental health, up from 71% in 2023. The percentage who felt safe at school increased from 78% to 83%. Students also reported fewer threats, attacks and encounters with weapons, along with greater confidence that adults would intervene in bullying.
The five-page survey summary shows that the depression-related risk measure declined from 42% in 2021 to 33% in 2025. However, 14% of students still reported seriously considering suicide—approximately one in seven. Sixth graders reported mental health concerns and suicide risk at levels similar to or higher than older students.
Other challenges remain. Frequent bullying and avoiding school because of bullying have not returned to pre-2021 levels. Opportunities for individual teacher support and student input in the classroom have shown little improvement.
The survey also documented declining substance use. Reported vaping within the previous 30 days fell from 19% in 2019 to 6% in 2025. Meanwhile, 24% of students reported spending at least four hours on social media per school day.
State officials linked the positive trends to investments in school safety and mental health services. While the survey documents encouraging changes, it does not establish which programs caused the improvements. Educators interested in examining the findings more closely can access the full statewide report at no cost.
