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 behaviors and other health-related experiences 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 changes in substance use, bullying, and mental health — including feelings of sadness and hopelessness as well as suicidal ideation.
Key Findings
- In 2025, 30.1% of public high school seniors reported feeling sad or hopeless two or more weeks in a row in the past year, a 2.8 percentage point increase from 2015 to 2025.
- In 2025, 13.1% of public high school seniors reported they seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, a 4.2 percentage point decrease from 2015 to 2025.
- In 2025, 15.7% of public high school seniors reported being electronically bullied at least once in the past year.
- In 2025, 14.5% of public high school seniors reported using a vaping product (including vaping liquids containing flavoring, nicotine, or marijuana concentrates) in the past 30 days.
References
1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. YRBS Explorer. CDC.gov. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://yrbs-explorer.services.cdc.gov/#/
2 Arkansas Department of Human Services. Arkansas PNA Survey Results. ISA DATA. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://arkansas.isadata.com/
