100 Arkansans Project Closer Look: Trends Among Public High School Seniors

Mental health issues remain key health challenges among adolescents in Arkansas, based on newly released data. This updated infographic, part of our 100 Arkansans initiative offers an overview of the evolving patterns in risky and antisocial behavior among public high school seniors in Arkansas. Data from the Arkansas Department of Human Services’ Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment Survey and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey highlight growing concerns around mental health — including feelings of sadness and hopelessness as well as suicidal ideation — pointing to a pressing need for targeted support and interventions.

Key Findings:

• In 2023, 60% of public high school seniors reported feeling sad or hopeless two or more weeks in a row in the past year, a 33% percentage point increase from 2015 to 2023.
• In 2023, a third of public high school seniors (34%) reported seriously considering attempting suicide in the past year, a 17% percentage point increase from 2015 to 2023.
• In 2023, 19% of public high school seniors reported being electronically bullied at least once in the past year.
• In 2023, 18% of public high school seniors reported using a vaping product (including vaping liquids containing flavoring, nicotine, or marijuana concentrates) in the past 30 days.