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Youth mental health is complex. Parents and kids need support.
We asked parents, caregivers, educators and the community what they think about the state of youth wellbeing in America today.
Hear directly from them about the complexity of the youth mental health challenge and the support that parents and young people need.
Join our growing coalition of concerned parents by sharing your thoughts.
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Here’s what they had to say.
“For a person who has worked with young people for the majority of my career as a psychologist and as a social justice advocate, we are in dire straits because of the issues that face these young people today.”
Valarie Y., Psychologist
“We need to find out what they are interested in and get them connected. This cannot happen in a vacuum. We need to communicate with our children and our youth and find out what they are interested in.”
Andrea C., Social Worker
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“I have taught college-level students since 1997, and I will say that we have had more mental health issues than ever in the last several years. Our students need help. I’m not a trained psychologist, but it is an issue we cannot choose to ignore.”
Mary M., College Professor
“The issues that our youth face today, substance abuse, violence, depression, things of that nature, obesity, the list can be very extensive. They face a multitude of issues.”
Jehlani W., Mississippi Resident
“We definitely have a mental health crisis for our young people today. It’s been ignored for way too long. We need to work together and make sure it does not continue to impact generations to come.”
Barbara C., Arkansas Resident
“I don’t think that it’s being addressed properly, not in schools, not in doctors’ offices. It’s just being overlooked or told that they have a problem, but no resolution to the problem.”
Michelle H., Indiana Resident
“I find it so vitally important for our young people to have positive role models in their lives…they need people in their lives that will really listen to them and sit and discuss the issues with them, being honest with them, giving them the truth, finding them the answers.”
Dennis Y., Florida Resident
“Find things that kids like to do would help, also. Take them to the movies, go to the park, do things with the kids, keep them off the street, get them into sports or something that they enjoy doing.”
Stella T., Texas Resident
“I think the biggest problem in our community these days is the youth are disconnected. They don’t have any activities to keep them engaged in the communities. And we need to learn to show love more, because we have sort of gotten away from it, from love, because love is what makes us grow, and it benefits everybody.”
Elworth C., North Carolina Resident
“Our young people today, our teenagers today, are facing an inordinate amount of under-socialized emotions and emotion regulation, and need the support of everyone that’s possibly trained to be able to support them as they’re developing.”
Kevin W., Counselor
“Our young kids and youth need more positive mentors in their life when they’re in need or need someone to talk to. If they can have someone to come and talk, calm them, lead them in the right direction.”
Mary L., North Carolina Resident
“There is a need of constant support, a comprehensive solution. And as a parent, as a leader in Boy Scouts, as a leader in civil air patrol, I see this in all kinds of youth, and I’m happy to support and help in whatever way possible.”
Yogesh P., Parent
“Today’s youth face more mental health challenges than ever before. They struggle with anxiety, they struggle with depression, they struggle with bullying, peer pressure…I’m hoping that we can make some serious changes in the future. I think that the facilities we have now are okay. I think that we could do better.”
Kristy A.
“We need to do something with these kids. More counseling, more love, I think that is needed. More love, more understanding and more time. More time needs to be given to these kids.”
Louise L., Virginia Resident
“I believe that this is something that many of our young people are experiencing because they’re not receiving the mental, emotional, spiritual support that they need in order to thrive and not just survive. I’m a very big supporter of holistic approaches, mental, emotional, financial, also professional, academic.”
George W., College Success Coach
“It is our mission, as adults who’ve already been through the transition phase as young adults, it is our goal to move forward to assist our young Americans in establishing stability mentally, physically, so that they will be able to contribute, they’ll be contributors, to the United States becoming a better place.”
Marilyn C., Mental Health Professional
“Youth mental health is very serious in the world today, and we as parents and adults have to help them navigate throughout this thing called life, with their challenges and their weaknesses, we have to be there to support them in every way that we can.”
LaSandra J., Georgia Resident
“I see every day and hear every day the struggles that our children experience, and not just from pre-K through fifth grade, because I’m in a program that serves kids from pre-K through senior high school, and I know that there’s a daily struggle. They are challenged with parents who are struggling. They are challenged with community violence and community safety.”
Karen J., School Mental Health Therapist
“I feel like, as parents and in our community, our elderly people, our parents, we get together and support one another to make sure that our children get what they need, a good foundation. They just need to know we care, we love them.”
Charlotte R., Grandparent
“Many youth today do not feel like they have any support system. They do not feel like they can talk to their parents or their peers. There’s a lot of peer pressure. If the parents find out about things, instead of getting in trouble, the parents need to help the youth get to a counselor.”
Teri S., Florida Resident
“If you have someone in your family or anyone you know who struggles from depression or other signs of mental illness, high anxiety, trauma-based substance issues, you really need to get involved. You need to be there by their side from day one, and if not, it’s never too late.”
Karen S., Parent
Join our Parents Coalition
Coalition to Empower our Future is seeking to convene a conversation to better understand the many contributing factors surrounding youth mental health and wellbeing to identify fully informed solutions that support young people, families and communities.
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