What the Statistics Have to say
About Students
mental health
Young people are struggling with their mental health and suicide ideation at rates higher than any prior generation, including age groups that have survived the great depression and both World Wars.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), young people reported the following:
Persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness at a rate of 42% (in 2021) compared to 28% (in 2011)
Seriously considered attempting suicide at a rate of 22% (in 2021) compared to 16% (in 2011)
Making a suicide plan at a rate of 18% (in 2021) compared to 13% (in 2011)
Attempting suicide at a rate of 10% (in 2021) compared to 8% (in 2011)
Experiencing poor mental health at a rate of 29% (in 2021)
Only 61% of high school students felt a sense of school connectedness (in 2021)
According to the Canadian Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) surveys:
mental illness is the leading national cause of disability among those aged 15-29, with an estimated one in four Canadian youth in need of mental health services each year.
According to the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey:
38% (in 2023) of students rated their mental health as fair or poor compared to 11% (in 2007).
12% (in 2023) of students rated their self-esteem as low, meaning they feel very unsatisfied with themself, compared to 7% (in 2015)
37% (in 2023) of students reported elevated stress compared to 29% (in 2015)
51% (in 2023) of students reported a moderate-to-serious level of psychological distress (which includes symptoms of anxiety and depression) compared to 24% (in 2013)
27% (in 2023) of students reported a serious level of psychological distress compared to 11% (in 2013)
loneliness
Loneliness in adolescent populations has reached record levels. A recent global survey uncovered a two-fold increase from 2012 to 2018 in the number of adolescents experiencing elevated states of loneliness. A sharp rise in loneliness was reported in 36 out of the 37 countries surveyed.
happiness
The 2024 World Happiness Report reveals a significant decline in happiness in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Even more alarming, happiness dropped by twice as much for younger age groups compared to older ones.
What the Statistics Have to say
About Their Teachers
attrition
Teacher attrition levels have become a global concern. A 2014 U.S. study reported that 41 percent of teachers leave the profession within their first five years on the job. Another report, published in 2023 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), cited a global shortfall of 44 million teachers. Teacher shortages exist in both developed and developing nations.
violence
Teachers are reporting rising levels of violence and threats. The perpetrators tend to be students and their parents.
burnout
Teacher burnout levels are at an all-time high. Kindergarten to grade 12 teachers had the highest burnout rates of all industries surveyed in the 2022 U.S. Gallup Panel Workforce Study. Many reasons were cited:
High Workload and an Overwhelming Amount of Responsibilities
Emotional Exhaustion
Student Behaviour and Discipline Issues
What the Statistics Have to say
About Their Parents
mental health
According to the U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory (2023):
33% of parents reported experiencing high levels of stress in the past month—compared to 20% of other adults.
48% of parents felt their stress was completely overwhelming most days—versus 26% for non-parents
financial constraints
In 2023, according to the APA survey, 66% of parents reported being “consumed by worries regarding money,” compared to 39% of other adults who weren’t parents. Contributing to these challenges is the fact that childcare costs have risen by 26% over the past decade.
loneliness
High rates of loneliness were reported among parents in a 2021 survey conducted by Cigna: 65% of parents and 77% of single parents reported feeling lonely compared to 55% of non-parents.
Everyone is Struggling
—students, teachers, and parents—
So how can You help
You can explore how your narratives are fostering a sense of community among students and their school communities. The research is clear: A person’s engagement, motivation, and self-confidence are shaped not just by what happens to them, but also by how they interpret their experiences. That means the messages we share with one another count.
The reality is, for decades, we have been shoulding on schools:
🌱 schools should spark curiosity and creativity
🌱 schools should inspire a love of learning
🌱 schools should be meaningful
And every garden needs manure—fertilizer. It enriches the soil, the foundational structure that supports growth. That’s why we have been developing better curricula, upgrading our technology, and enhancing support services—all of which have been needed.
But plants need more. Without water and other essential nutrients, they won’t survive, let alone thrive. The same is also true for humans. They need life-giving forces like compassion, gratitude, forgiveness, optimism, and hope, which are science-backed practices increasingly being linked to:
🌱 better sleep
🌱 less burnout, better health
🌱 greater resilience
🌱 stronger engagement and lower levels of attrition
🌱 improved academic outcomes
As human beings, we have deep psychological needs for learning and connecting. We need to feel heard and believe that we matter. In fact, we function—or grow—best when we belong in meaningful ways to something bigger than ourselves.
But there is no one-size-fits-all approach to gardening. Similarly, there is no correct balance of fertilizer, water, and nutrients that will work for every student, all of the time. Consequently, schools need environments where honest conversations happen intentionally, collaboration is grounded in mutual respect and shared goals, and experimentation and reflection are welcomed as ways for everyone to learn and grow from their mistakes. Because the data is clear. When organizations are structured around these ideals, they realize:
🌱 increased innovation and problem-solving
🌱 faster learning and adaptability
🌱 improved performance outcomes, knowledge sharing, and employee engagement.
And so the question to ask is this:
What if we could expand our narratives from simply focusing on the manure
so that we could do a better job of working together—as students, teachers, and parents—and we could focus on