Parents want a comprehensive approach to youth mental health

Caroline Carney, Guest Commentary // October 24, 2025

As parents, we can disagree on a lot of things — bedtimes, when to give our kids their first phone, and how much to intervene in their social lives. But most of us in Arizona and across the country agree on this: our young people are struggling, and we need a comprehensive approach to supporting their mental health.

New research from the Coalition to Empower our Future — an organization I help lead — shows that more than three in four Arizona parents and voters want to see a comprehensive approach to solving the youth mental health challenge, rather than one that specifically targets access to phones.