Dane County middle and high school students reported lower levels of anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation, according to a 2024 assessment from Dane County’s Department of Human Services.
The Dane County Youth Assessment (DCYA) is conducted every three years for students in grades seven through 12 and aims to capture student opinions, behaviors and attitudes. Over 24,000 students were surveyed this year, the largest population in its 44-year history.
In 2024, anxiety and depression levels dropped back down to 2015 levels, with 24.6% of students expressing symptoms of these mental health struggles. This marks the first decrease in reported depression since 2012, where rates were at 29.2%.
Anxiety and depression rates in the DCYA are generally higher in female, lower income and LGBTQ students, but these groups reported fewer mental health struggles compared to 2021.
Among female students, 43.8% reported having feelings of anxiety often or always, down from 2021 (53.8%) after 15 years of increases. Anxiety among male students remains nearly the same as in 2021.
The last DCYA administered before 2024 was conducted in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, an unprecedented time for students who experienced limited social interaction while at home. Many experiences measured in the DCYA were impacted during the pandemic, including decreased alcohol and cannabis use and lower levels of dating and sexual behavior.
However, the number of students staying awake past 11 p.m. increased significantly, with 71.5% of youth reporting less sleep in 2021, up from 59.2% in 2018. In 2024, sleep levels returned to pre-pandemic norms, but students staying up past 11 p.m. three or more nights a week reported more depression, struggled with homework and skipped class more frequently than their peers.
Students also reported lower rates of binge drinking and tobacco use in 2024, but cannabis and illegal drug usage stayed consistent over time.
Wisconsin is facing a shortage of school-based mental health professionals, and in most cases, mental health professionals are shared by more than one school, according to a report from the Capital Times. State Superintendent Jill Underly requested $304 million in state funding to support youth mental health in schools for the 2025-2027 state budget.
Ella Hanley is the associate news editor for The Daily Cardinal. She has written breaking, city, state and campus news. Follow her on Twitter at @ellamhanley.
