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The 2024 Military Teen Experience Survey (MTES) offers important insight into the mental health and resilience of military-connected youth. The findings show how family circumstances, such as parental injury, illness, or deployment, shape the emotional well-being of these students. For educators and school staff, understanding these patterns is an essential step toward recognizing risk, responding with empathy, and strengthening the supports that help students thrive.

What the Data Show

The MTES included 1,634 military-connected youth ages 13–24. Nearly three-quarters said their parent had a service-connected wound, illness, or injury. The survey used validated tools to assess well-being, suicide risk, and food security, offering a detailed view of how military life experiences influence youth mental health.

Only 8 percent of military teens reported high well-being, 57 percent reported moderate, and 35 percent reported low. In the general population, about 75 percent of youth report moderate well-being and 25 percent fall into the high or low categories combined. Lower well-being was closely linked to parental injury, food insecurity, active-duty or dual-military status, and frequent deployments.

Suicide Ideation and Self-Harm

Twelve percent of military-connected teens reported suicidal thoughts within the past month. Most of these youth had also thought about how they might end their lives, felt intent to act, or made plans. About 45 percent said they had self-harmed at least once, and nearly one-third had done so repeatedly in the past six months. For comparison, national surveys suggest that approximately 22 percent of U.S. high school students have seriously considered suicide and around 10 percent have attempted it in the past year. The rates reported by military-connected youth indicate a heightened level of distress that warrants focused attention and support.

The Role of Parental Injury

Youth from families affected by military-related parental injury were more than ten times as likely to report low well-being and twelve times as likely to engage in self-harm. When a parent’s injury changes daily routines or limits family functioning, children may experience emotional strain, uncertainty, and grief. Schools can play a vital role in offering stability and connection during these times.

What Schools Can Do

Educators are often the first to notice shifts in a student’s mood, attendance, or engagement. A consistent, caring response can make a lasting difference. Schools can:

1. Strengthen understanding of the Impact of Parental Injuries and Death on Children and how to provide support for children and families experiencing parental injury and death with compassion and sensitivity.
2. Learn to identify risk factors of student suicide and warning signs and stressful precipitating events of student suicide to better recognize when a student may need help.
3. Use structured approaches based on suicide risk assessment best practices and follow clear protocols for handling suspected suicide risk to ensure safety and coordinated response.

Moving Forward

Military-connected youth demonstrate remarkable strength, but their well-being can be deeply influenced by the demands and disruptions of military life. Schools play a crucial role in helping them build resilience, manage stress, and maintain hope.

The MTES also found that nearly half of military-connected teens said they want to serve in the military as adults, compared to less than 10 percent of teens in the general population who expressed that same interest. Supporting the well-being of these youth today not only helps them thrive now but also contributes to the future readiness and strength of the all-volunteer force.

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