Nearly 1 in 3 high school girls reported seriously considering suicide in 2021, according to a new survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing teenage girls experienced record-high levels of violence, sadness, and suicide risk.

In 2021, almost 3 in 5 teenage girls experienced "persistent" feelings of sadness or hopelessness, the highest level reported in the past decade and double that of teenage boys, as reports of harmful experiences went up, according to the CDC's biennial 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

“High school should be a time for trailblazing, not trauma. These data show our kids need far more support to cope, hope, and thrive,” said CDC’s Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Director for Program and Science Debra Houry. "Proven school prevention programs can offer teens a vital lifeline in these growing waves of trauma.”

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The number of teenage girls who reported experiencing sexual violence in 2021 increased 20% since 2019, the first such increase since the agency began tracking the problem.

The survey, which was completed by students in ninth through 12th grade in public and private schools in the United States, is the first to shed light on these trends since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The CDC noted in its report that, at the time of the survey, many students were still experiencing disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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"Although most schools had returned to in-person instruction by that time, the time spent out of school for many students may have impacted the school-related [Youth Risk Behavior Survey] variables," the report noted. "Disruptions in daily life also remained common during the time of collection. Other research and surveys have described the impact of the pandemic on adolescent health and well-being, which was severe."