Child Mental Health
Graphics
Use HPIO graphics and data in your work. To use the data graphics in your presentations, click here to access the slides on Google Drive, click “File” and then “Download.” This will allow the option to download individual slides or the full deck into PowerPoint slides, a jpg, pdf or other available media files.
Note: These publications were published in 2024 and 2024. For most-recent data, consult the data sources at the end of the publication.
Data Points
Mental health conditions among Ohio children and youth
Key data findings
- In 2023, a fifth (20%) of middle school students and a third (33%) of high school students in Ohio reported that their mental health was not good most or all of the time. Prevalence of poor mental health increased as grade level increased, peaking in 11th grade.
- In 2023, 35% of Ohio high school students reported consistently feeling sad or hopeless, up from 26% in 2013.
- In 2021-2022, almost 12% of Ohio children ages 3 to 17 had anxiety, compared to roughly 10% of children nationwide.
- In 2021, 9.4%, of Ohio children, ages 12- 17, were diagnosed with a substance use disorder in the past year, compared to 9% nationally.
- An estimated 12% of Ohio youth had attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or attention deficit disorder (ADD) in 2021 and 2022.
- In 2021-2022, 3% of Ohio children were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, compared to 3.3% nationally.
- Students who are gay, lesbian or bisexual reported considering suicide at almost 4 times the rate as students who are heterosexual. Additionally, 20% of gay, lesbian or bisexual students reported that they attempted suicide one or more times in the last year.
Suggested citation: “Ohio Child Mental Health Project Mental health conditions among Ohio children and youth,” Health Policy Institute of Ohio, December 2024.
Factors contributing to child and youth mental health struggles
Key data findings
- 63% of Ohio youth, ages 12-17, are spending three or more hours on screens per day (not including schoolwork).
- 8 in 10 Ohio high school students (80%) do not get at least 8 hours of sleep a night, with girls less likely than boys to get the recommended amount.
- In 2023, 3.7% of Ohio high school students reported experiencing unstable housing; rates were higher among Black and Hispanic students.
- Up to 80% of children and youth in foster care have a significant mental health need, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics7, and these challenges generally continue into adulthood.
Suggested citation: “Ohio Child Mental Health Project: Factors contributing to child and youth mental health struggles,” Health Policy Institute of Ohio, July 2025.
