Insight on San Antonio’s youth mental health shows local teens reported facing mental health challenges, but LGBTQ+ and gender diverse youth are disproportionately affected.
The data comes from the third annual SASpeakUp Teen Mental Health Survey, conducted between March 1 to April 30 by the City of San Antonio Department of Human Services’ San Antonio Youth Commission and the Metropolitan Health District’s Project Worth Teen Ambassadors.
The survey reflects the responses of 1,455 kids between ages 12 and 19.
There were improvements in some outcomes, like a 12% decrease in youth feeling the inability to perform day-to-day tasks; a 13% decrease in feeling helpless, hopeless and like nothing matters and a 15% decrease in reporting self-harm compared to last year’s teen mental health report.
But LGBTQ+ youth were over three times more likely to report self-harm and/or suicidal ideation.
In a seven-page report of survey results, the city said incremental improvements demonstrate the American Rescue Plan Act or ARPA funding dedicated to bolstering teen mental health in the city needs to continue, along with a strong and stable focus on mental health support for youth as that funding comes to an end.
Teen mental health became a national emergency in October 2021 when pediatric groups published a declaration noting the uptick in “emergency department visits for all mental health emergencies, including suspected suicide attempts during the pandemic.”
The city’s survey analyzed mental health status, issues experienced, who helps them, and what affects mental health. It also analyzed demographics, like gender identity, race and ethnicity and sexual orientation.
More LGBTQ+ youth experience depressive traits than their straight/heterosexual counterparts. LGBTQ+ youth reported a small decrease in school having a negative effect on their mental health, but it remains higher than their straight/heterosexual counterparts.
Results from youth respondents identifying as gender diverse
35% report an inability to perform day-to-day tasks; 51% feel helpless, numb and like nothing matters; 10% smoke, vape or use drugs; 30% reported self-harm, and 34% experience suicidal ideation; 75% indicate school has a negative impact on their mental health, and 58% say family has a negative impact.
Transgender youth reported even higher numbers
53% stated an inability to perform day-to-day tasks; 58% stated feeling helpless, hopeless, numb, or like nothing matters; 22% smoked, vaped, or used drugs; 47% reported self-harm and 50% reported suicidal ideation; 72% of transgender youth reported school has a negative impact on their mental health, and 67% reported family also has a negative impact.
The numbers are more than double for every category when compared to cisgender youth, according to the city.
All race/ethnicity categories reported a decrease in mental health struggles, except youth who selected “Another option not listed here” or “I prefer not answer,” which reported an increase in feeling helpless, hopeless, or numb, like nothing matters.
Overall, 25% of youth surveyed say they experience an inability to perform day-to-day tasks with 11% reporting self-harm and 14% reporting suicidal ideation. But more students, 62%, said school has a negative impact on their mental health.
Females reported higher struggles compared to their male counterparts.
Of the teens surveyed, 36% reported social media as a negative impact on their mental health, higher than last year. Comparing yourself to others was also the highest rated stressors for youth, second to school.
What they say helped their mental health
Of the respondents, 44% reported that music helped; 30% reported napping helped; 30% reported hanging out in person helped; 26% reported watching something on TV helped and 25% reported video games helped. Only 2% of teens stated that nothing helped.
“This survey is a confidential way to tell city and youth leaders how they can better support our teen population,” said Human Services Director Melody Woosley. “The 2024 survey results will continue to inform city decisions and make a real difference in the lives of this young group. The City of San Antonio is listening and ready to act.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
