Mountainside Research: Youth Mental Health and School Data for Denver

By Mountainside Behavioral Health · Updated November 12, 2026

Short studies built from public data about young people, mental health and access to care in Denver and Colorado. Every figure names its source and the period it covers, and the data behind each study is free to download.

In crisis or thinking about suicide? Call or text 988 now (in Colorado it reaches the 988 Colorado Mental Health Line). If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

Studies and statistics

Study Chronic Absence in Denver-Area Schools, 2018-19 to 2025-26 36.6% of Denver Public Schools students were chronically absent in 2025-26, against 27.5% statewide. Six Denver-area districts compared by year and grade. Published November 12, 2026 · Data (CSV)
Study How Denver-Area Teens Feel: Healthy Kids Colorado Survey, 2019 to 2025 19.4% of Denver high school students reported persistent sadness or hopelessness in fall 2025, down from 35.6% in 2021. Eleven survey measures, Denver and Colorado. Published November 12, 2026 · Data (CSV)
Statistics Denver Youth Mental Health and School Attendance Statistics 6.3% truancy rate in Denver Public Schools in 2025-26, against 3.5% statewide. Attendance, teen survey and adult mental health statistics for Denver, with sources. Published November 12, 2026 · Data (CSV)

How we work

Public, named sources, such as state agencies and federal surveys. Each figure on a study page names its source and period, and every source is linked.
Our own calculations are labeled as ours, and the method section of each study says how we made them. A separate script re-checks each headline figure against the source before a page is published.
No client information. These studies use published, aggregate data.
Not medical advice. The studies describe whole groups of people; they do not say anything about any one child, teen or adult.
Spotted an error? Contact us and we will correct it and note the change on the page.

Using our data

Each study’s data is free to download as a CSV and free to reuse, including commercially, with credit to Mountainside Behavioral Health and a link to the study (Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (opens in a new tab)).

Sources used in our studies

Colorado Department of Education, Attendance and Truancy Statistics (2025-26 district and state workbooks; State Attendance Summary, August 2026) (opens in a new tab): 2025-26 school year. Used in Chronic absence in Denver-area schools, Denver youth mental health statistics.
Colorado Department of Education, Attendance data: insights, resources and archives (chronic absenteeism by district) (opens in a new tab): 2019-20 to 2024-25 school years. Used in Chronic absence in Denver-area schools.
Colorado Department of Education, 2018-19 chronic absenteeism by district (CDE file, archived copy at the Internet Archive) (opens in a new tab): 2018-19 school year. Used in Chronic absence in Denver-area schools.
Colorado Department of Education, SchoolView district attendance pages (used to re-check figures) (opens in a new tab): 2025-26 school year. Used in Chronic absence in Denver-area schools, Denver youth mental health statistics.
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Healthy Kids Colorado Survey dashboard (high school results) (opens in a new tab): 2019, 2021, 2023 and 2025 surveys. Used in How Denver-area teens are feeling (Healthy Kids Colorado Survey), Denver youth mental health statistics.
CDPHE, Healthy Kids Colorado Survey dashboard, data download view (used for this study) (opens in a new tab): downloaded November 12, 2026. Used in How Denver-area teens are feeling (Healthy Kids Colorado Survey).
CDPHE, 2025 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey Results (opens in a new tab): fall 2025 survey. Used in How Denver-area teens are feeling (Healthy Kids Colorado Survey), Denver youth mental health statistics.
CDC, PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, County Data, 2025 release (opens in a new tab): 2023 survey data. Used in Denver youth mental health statistics.