Pennsylvania Youth Survey Showed Mental Health Gains

New data reveals more students felt safe and healthy in 2025 compared to previous state reports.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Secondary Education

Bold vector editorial illustration showing two small oak saplings growing in soil, symbolizing youth development and mental health growth. — A 2025 Pennsylvania state youth survey shows a five percent increase in students reporting good mental health and safety compared to previous years. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Is student mental health and school safety improving in your local community?

Pennsylvania released the results of the 2025 Pennsylvania Youth Survey, revealing a 5% increase in students reporting good mental health and safety at school. Despite these gains, one in seven students reported considering suicide in the past year.

Why it matters

The survey provides state agencies with a crucial look at student well-being and substance use trends to help guide future policy interventions. Understanding these shifts helps officials address persistent risks such as suicide and bullying among the state youth population.

The survey results show a 5% increase in students reporting good mental health and feeling safe at school compared to 2023. Additionally, one in seven students reported considering suicide in the past year, while bullying rates remained consistent with previous data.

The players

Pennsylvania Department of Education

This state agency oversees the administration of public education and utilizes survey data to inform policy and student support programs.

Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs

The department works to coordinate services and prevention strategies related to substance use, often using student survey data to track risks.

The details

The survey polled students in 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th grades to assess their perceptions of school safety, substance risks, and mental health. While bullying instances remained stable, more students indicated that adults are actively intervening when incidents occur.

The previous survey was conducted in 2023.
The current reported data was collected during the 2025 survey year.
Survey results were presented to state leaders in October 2026.

Culture Shift

The data from the Pennsylvania Youth Survey allows the state to track long-term trends in student well-being rather than relying on isolated school-level anecdotes. This report updates key mental health and safety figures previously established by the longitudinal study.

The survey results may influence local school board policies regarding bullying intervention and student mental health resources. Families can use these findings to identify common trends in substance risk perceptions that may affect their own children at school.

The takeaway

While the rise in reported school safety is a positive indicator, the high rate of suicide ideation signals a continued need for intervention. Parents and school officials should focus on the increased reporting of adult bullying interventions to build a more supportive environment.