The recent Minnesota Student Survey shows great news for Carlton County high school students. Compared to 2022, there are notable improvements in mental health among students.
This survey, which began in 1989, is conducted every three years. In 2025, over 119,000 students from fifth, eighth, ninth, and eleventh grades took part.
The most significant change was seen in female ninth graders. Their reports of self-harm dropped sharply. In 2022, 47% of these girls admitted to self-harm within the past year. By 2025, that number fell to 31%. Only 4% reported self-harming 20 times or more, down from 15% three years prior. These figures are getting close to pre-pandemic levels.
Male ninth graders in Carlton County showed improvements too. The percentage of boys who reported self-harm decreased by 5%. Serious thoughts of suicide also dropped from 12% to 5% among boys.
These positive trends aren’t just in Carlton County. Similar patterns are seen across Minnesota. Dr. Brooke Cunningham, Minnesota’s Commissioner of Health, noted, “Though students continue to struggle with mental health, the current survey shows positive trends in well-being and healthier behaviors.”
A bright spot in the data is the drop in suicide contemplation among eleventh graders. For boys, the rate fell from 29% to about 21%. However, this is still higher than the 17% reported in 2013. For girls, the percentage dropped from 45% to 32%, matching the 2013 statistics.
Yet, not everything is positive. The latest survey indicated that social media poses challenges for many students. About 40% of eleventh graders reported spending too much time on social media, which interferes with their daily responsibilities. In Carlton County, 39% of eleventh graders felt the same. Among ninth graders, approximately 43% of female students and 33% of male students reported similar distractions.
These findings highlight an ongoing struggle. Even as mental health improves, external factors like social media continue to impact students. Addressing both mental health and social media issues will be key as we move forward.
For further insights, you can refer to the [Minnesota Department of Health](https://www.health.state.mn.us/) for detailed reports and resources on student health trends.
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Carlton County schools ,Minnesota Department of Education,Teen mental health,Teen self-harm,Teen social media use,Teen suicide
