The national numbers on Asian American teens and young adults do not tell one simple story, and they cover many different communities at once. This guide covers what the CDC, HHS and published studies report, what they cannot tell us, and how a young person can start getting support. It is general education, not medical advice.
By the Exsura Team · October 25, 2026
NIMH says: “If you, your child, or someone you know needs immediate help, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988” and, in life-threatening situations, to call 911. The 988 Lifeline says it is available 24/7/365, that conversations are free and confidential, and that it is “for everyone.” Call, text and chat are offered in English and Spanish. For callers who speak other languages, the 988 interpretation pages say you can call 988 and be provided translation in more than 240 additional languages through voice calling only. NIMH also suggests that children and teens save several emergency numbers to their cell phones, including 988 and the number of a trusted friend or relative. For help choosing between 988 and 911, see 988 vs 911: when to call which.
Every statistic here covers “Asian” or “Asian American” young people as one group. The CDC reports in its national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) use non-Hispanic Asian high school students in grades 9 to 12. None of the sources we found reports Indian, South Asian, East Asian or any other subgroup separately, so none of these numbers should be read as a number for a particular family, origin or community. A systematic review of studies on Asian American college students says explicitly that future studies should allow comparison between South Asian and East Asian students.
The YRBS also has limits. It covers only students in public and private high schools, and the CDC reports that for the 2023 survey the overall response rate was 35.4%.
HHS Office of Minority Health reports: “In 2023, Asian American male high school students were 10% more likely than other U.S. male students to report attempting suicide in the past year.” Its table, drawn from the CDC survey, shows the figures behind that statement:
That is a mixed picture, and it should not be reduced to a headline. The 10% figure is a ratio of 7.1% to 6.4% for male students in one survey year, with no confidence interval printed on the OMH page, and the comparison column is all students, which includes Asian students. For Asian students of both sexes, and for Asian female students, reported attempts were below the figures for all students, and reported suicidal thoughts were lower than most other groups. These are self-reported answers from students who were in school, and survey results do not capture every young person.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988. In life-threatening situations, call 911.
A 2024 CDC report on the 2023 survey found that “Reported experiences of racism were most prevalent among Asian (56.9%), multiracial (48.8%), and Black or African American (Black) (45.9%) students and least prevalent among White students (17.3%).” It describes racism as unfair treatment in school because of a student’s race or ethnicity. The report adds: “Student reports of racism were associated with indicators of mental health and suicide risk among American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) and Asian students.”
Two cautions from the report itself. The estimate for Asian students has a wide confidence interval (45.0 to 68.0). And the report says that because the survey is cross-sectional, “causality between variables cannot be determined.” So these are associations: the survey cannot show whether racism led to poorer mental health, whether the reverse is also true, or whether something else explains both. The CDC suggests schools promote connections that foster positive experiences for all students, including those who have experienced racism, and incorporate policies and practices to prevent unfair treatment on the basis of race and ethnicity.
Evidence on Asian American college students is limited and mixed:
For adults, HHS reports that in 2024 non-Hispanic Asian adults were 45% less likely than U.S. adults overall to have received mental health treatment in the past year (12.5% versus 22.9%), and 27% less likely to report a mental illness. That is for adults of all ages, not teens, and the page does not state a reason for the gap.
NIMH says: “Mental illnesses can be treated. If you are a child or teen, talk to your parents, school counselor, or health care provider.” If you are unsure where to go, it suggests asking your pediatrician or family doctor. It says that for a young person with symptoms of a mental disorder, the earlier treatment is started, the more effective it can be.
If bringing it up with family feels hard, see how to talk to your family about mental health, which includes conversation starters from SAMHSA. To find and prepare for a provider, see how to find a mental health provider. For lower-cost care, see low-cost mental health care in Dallas County. If you are a young adult who is struggling with the pressure of studies or work, see burnout: what it is and when to get help.
The national figures are mixed. HHS reports that in 2023, Asian American male high school students were 10% more likely than other U.S. male students to report attempting suicide in the past year (7.1% versus 6.4%), while Asian female students and Asian students overall reported lower figures than all students. CDC reports that Asian students were less likely than most other groups to seriously consider attempting suicide. These are single-year survey estimates.
CDC reports that 56.9% of Asian high school students said they had ever experienced racism in school in 2023, the highest of any group, with a wide confidence interval (45.0 to 68.0). It describes this as unfair treatment in school because of race or ethnicity. It says causality between experiences of racism and mental health outcomes cannot be determined.
NIMH says that if you are a child or teen, talk to your parents, school counselor, or health care provider. If you are unsure where to go for help, it suggests asking your pediatrician or family doctor.
Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. In life-threatening situations, call 911.
Sources last checked October 25, 2026. This article is general education, not financial, legal or medical advice. Rules, fees and programs change, so confirm details with the organization before you act.
Take the next step
Our directory lists free and low-cost mental health help across Dallas-Fort Worth.
A free, private check-in. It is not a diagnosis, and it ends with next steps.
Start the check-in →Keep reading