Detroit Public Schools students report lower levels of depression compared to their peers nationwide
B A C K G R O U N D
As part of an ongoing relationship with Detroit Public Schools Community School District (DPSCD), the University of Michigan Youth Policy Lab conducts an annual analysis of the District’s Universal Wellness Assessment This tool, developed in partnership with TRAILS (Transforming Research into Action to Improve the Lives of Students), was adopted by the district to monitor and support student mental health and wellness
K E Y F I N D I N G S
Analysis of the District’s Universal Wellness Assessment (UWS) from the 2022-2023 school year indicate rates of depression among DPSCD students were not only lower than pre-pandemic levels, but they were also substantially below national averages.
Among 9-12th grade DPSCD students, 24% reported symptoms of depression, and 24% reported symptoms of anxiety in the 2022-2023 school year This is substantially below national averages Nationally, rates of persistent sadness on the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) were 40% in 2023
About half of all DPSCD students reported experiencing a traumatic event. Within this group, symptoms of depression and anxiety were highest among female students, students experiencing homelessness, and special education students.
The decrease in students reporting symptoms of depression and anxiety between the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years was the largest among Asian students, Black students, students attending examination and neighborhood schools, and female students.
DPSCD has invested in increasing funding and improving the staffing of counselors in all schools, creating climates and cultures at each school where students feel more “loved, challenged, and prepared” every day, and implementing the child at risk survey with students from grades 3-12 to identify and provide students with one on one and small group therapy
Faculty Co-Director of YPL
"I was thrilled to see that the rates of depression were so much lower than the national average DPSCD is committed to the well-being of their students, and it has really made a difference ”