Young people in Fairfax County are reporting lower rates of mental health concerns and risky behaviors, according to the 2024-2025 Fairfax County Youth Survey. The survey, conducted annually among students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12, provides insight into youth behaviors and identifies ways adults can support teens.
“Mental health concerns continued to trend downwards,” the report states. Over one in five students in grades 8, 10, and 12 (22%) said they felt so sad or hopeless for two or more weeks that they stopped doing some usual activities. This marks a significant decrease from the rate reported in 2021 (38%). Among sixth graders, over one in four (27%) reported similar feelings. While this is an improvement compared to post-pandemic years (2021-2023), the rate for sixth graders remains higher than pre-pandemic levels.
The survey also found that “rates of substance use among youth were the lowest in at least a decade.” Reported use of alcohol and other substances—including marijuana, cigarettes, vaping products, and non-medical painkillers—was at its lowest point in ten years for most categories. Fairfax County youth continued to report lower usage rates than national averages for most substances.
“Some students reported experiencing bullying,” with ten percent of students in grades 8, 10, and 12 saying they had been bullied on school property during the past year—a figure similar to last year’s results. Eighth grade students were twice as likely as their older peers to report being bullied (16% versus 8% for tenth graders and 6% for twelfth graders). About a quarter of sixth graders (25%) also reported being bullied.
Another finding showed that “many students spent over three hours per day using electronics for non-school activities.” Forty percent of older students and thirty-four percent of sixth graders said they spent three or more hours on an average school day playing games or using computers or mobile devices outside of schoolwork.
Despite these challenges, “most students feel supported at home and in the community.” The majority of surveyed students indicated they have parents available to help them (88%), while less than half said there are adults in the community they can talk to (47%). Eighty-four percent reported feeling safe at school.
The Fairfax County Youth Survey has been co-sponsored by the Board of Supervisors and School Board since its inception in 2001. It is administered online each fall across eight languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu and Vietnamese. In this cycle’s survey period—excluding sixth grade participants—32,361 students took part from grades 8 through 12 (73% participation rate), while another 12,294 sixth grade students participated (89%).
The survey was not conducted during the pandemic year of 2020 due to COVID-19 disruptions.
A concept highlighted by the survey is “Three to Succeed,” which emphasizes that having three or more positive factors—such as high personal integrity; performing community service; recognition from teachers; supportive adults; extracurricular involvement; or parental availability—can help youth make healthier choices and better manage stress.
