One Parent’s Perspective: Cause for Hope Among All the Bad News

By Glen Weiner
March 31, 2026

This post is part of the “One Parent’s Perspective” blog series in which I explore topics related to youth mental health and wellbeing. I share my perspective as a parent and in my role leading the Coalition to Empower our Future (CEF), including what I learn from my own experiences as well as conversations with experts, educators and young people themselves.

Parenthood has come a long way since I was growing up. I was struck by an anecdote in a recent Scientific American article. It opened with a mom helping her two kids de-escalate a conflict by modeling and teaching them skills that parents back in the day weren’t even aware of. Encouraging empathy, sharing your feelings and validating their emotions? Are you kidding me? That was definitely not part of the parents’ playbook in previous generations. 

But during my 14 years as a father, parenting two siblings, I’ve learned to try to model and impart these skills. I’m not always successful, and my wife is certainly more adept at it, but at least I try. And I see many of my fellow parents trying to impart them as well. 

What I find interesting about these changes in parenting style and the skills and resiliency it nurtures is that it complicates a narrative we hear all the time. Ask almost anyone how kids are doing today, and you are likely to hear responses ranging from not good to really bad. And it’s no wonder. 

Headlines around youth mental wellbeing can be downright terrifying. We are bombarded by stories of rising levels of anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation among our kids. It is easy to absorb all these messages and assume, based on them, that the trajectory across the board is going in only one direction – down.

But as the article notes, the reality is more nuanced. Yes, too many young people are struggling. That cannot and should not be minimized. At the same time, there is credible evidence that in some important ways kids today are developing stronger emotional awareness, greater empathy and more openness to others than previous generations. Those two truths can coexist, even if they seem to pull in opposite directions. That tension matters because how we interpret it shapes how we respond.

We are living in a moment where negative news travels faster and sticks longer. Stories about crises feel urgent and actionable. They demand attention. But they can also crowd out a fuller understanding of what is actually happening in young people’s lives. When we focus only on what is going wrong, we risk missing signs of progress that could inform better solutions.

Young people do not live in simple systems. Their mental health is shaped by a web of interconnected experiences. Academic pressure, family stress, peer relationships, overuse of technology, economic instability, sleep, time outdoors, access to care and other factors all interact in ways that are difficult to untangle. No single piece tells the whole story.

When we focus too narrowly, we risk designing solutions that fall short. Even well-intentioned efforts can miss the mark if they are built on an incomplete picture.

A more realistic approach requires holding two ideas at once. There are real challenges that demand attention and resources. There are also meaningful strengths we can build on. Today’s kids may be more comfortable talking about their feelings. They may be more accepting of differences. They may be better equipped, in some contexts, to understand one another’s perspectives. Those are not small things.

We must avoid being pulled into a narrative so negative that it becomes misleading. When we assume the worst about young people, we risk overlooking what is actually helping them and where we can make the greatest impact.

Comprehensive solutions start with listening. Parents, educators, clinicians, community leaders and young people themselves all see different parts of the puzzle. Bringing those perspectives together helps us identify what support is truly needed. It also reminds us that each child’s experience is different, shaped by their unique environment and circumstances.

From there, the work becomes both practical and collective. Promote digital literacy education that encourages balanced, positive technology habits. Build coordinated school, community and healthcare partnerships that address the root causes of youth mental health challenges such as poverty, social isolation and academic pressure. Reach young people with preventative care to equip them with the tools and resources to help manage stress and emotions. And expand access to play, creativity and safe community third spaces to foster connection, resilience and belonging while acknowledging that each child’s needs and experiences are unique. These are just some of the ideas that the Coalition to Empower our Future has heard during our listening sessions.

The evolution in parenting style and the potential impact it has had on our young people offers a glimpse of what is possible. Kids learn to name their feelings. Repairing conflict. Practicing empathy in real time. It doesn’t erase the challenges, but it does suggest that progress is happening, often quietly and without headlines.

If we want to support young people effectively, we need to widen our lens. The story is not one purely of decline, nor is it one of uncomplicated progress. It is a complex, evolving picture. Our response should be just as thoughtful.

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