Half of 10th-grade girls report frequent mental distress

About half of 10th-grade girls experience at least two symptoms of mental distress, such as anxiety, sadness, irritability or sleep problems, more than once a week, according to findings from the Icelandic Youth Survey reported by mbl.is. Self-harm is still reported by about 15% of 10th-grade students. Although the overall rate appears to be declining, it has not fallen among girls.

The survey findings, presented on Monday, also show that mental wellbeing and life satisfaction among students in grades 6 to 10 have generally improved. In 2026, 62% said their lives were good, up from 57% in 2023. The share experiencing frequent mental distress fell from 37% to 32% over the same period.

The survey was conducted in spring 2026 among students in grades 4 to 10 at Icelandic primary schools. A total of 23,881 students from 153 schools took part. The overall response rate was 71.7%, while the response rate within participating schools was 82.4%.