80% of Florida Voters And Parents Support a Comprehensive Approach To The Youth Mental Health Challenge
New Research Shows Floridians, Concerned About Youth Mental Health, Reject One-Sized Fits All Solutions
WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the new school year begins, the Coalition to Empower Our Future (CEF) has released new research highlighting perspectives of Florida voters and parents on youth mental health issues. The findings reveal a strong and widespread concern about the complexity of youth mental health, with many Floridians recognizing it as a multifaceted challenge. A majority (80 percent) of Florida voters and parents favor broad solutions over narrow approaches focused solely on limiting phone or device use. The study, conducted in partnership with Mercury Analytics, surveyed 600 registered Florida voters — including 334 parents — and engaged 28 voters and parents in online discussions during June and August 2025.
“Mental health challenges among young people aren’t new, but what’s changing is our understanding of just how complex and widespread they are,” said former Representative Carlos Curbelo (R-FL-26), board member of the Coalition to Empower Our Future. “Parents know this issue demands real investment, long-term thinking, and a willingness to address everything from school environments to family stress. This research should push all of us to act with urgency and carefully consider all of the contributing factors to youth mental health challenges.”
Parents and voters across Florida shared their perspectives on the growing mental health challenges facing young people in their communities:
- “Mental health challenges stem from multiple interconnected factors, so addressing only one is like fixing one leak while ignoring the structural problems.”
- “Because youth mental health is influenced by so many contributing factors, a comprehensive approach is needed to address them all.”
- “Acknowledging the differences makes youth feel like they are being listened to and that they aren’t being rolled through a cookie-cutter program.”
Most Florida voters and parents personally know young people facing mental health struggles, but report limited awareness of where to find local resources or support. Almost seven-in-10 say it’s challenging for young people in their community to access mental health support when they need it. Respondents overwhelmingly agree that recognizing each young person’s unique mental health experience is essential to the solution.
The research also highlights strong public support for practical measures like improving access to mental health services, providing parents with tools and resources, and training K-12 educators and staff to identify early signs of emotional distress.
CEF’s findings out of Florida highlight the pressing need for a statewide conversation focused on a comprehensive, inclusive approach to youth mental health that reflects its complexity and invites collaboration from families, educators, and community leaders.
The full Florida research findings can be found HERE.
About the Coalition to Empower our Future
Coalition to Empower our Future is an organization that aims to bring together a range of voices to fully inform solutions that empower youth, parents, communities and society. The Coalition to Empower our Future supports solutions that are inclusive of the full spectrum of factors impacting youth mental health. Former Montana Governor Steve Bullock, former assistant secretary for the Administration for Children and Family Services at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services January Contreras, and former U.S. Representative Carlos Curbelo serve on the board of directors of the Coalition to Empower our Future. Dr. Caroline Carney, a board-certified psychiatrist and internist, is a health executive and clinician who serves as an expert advisor to the coalition.
To learn more, visit empowerourfuturecoalition.com or follow Coalition to Empower our Future on Facebook, X and YouTube.
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