One Parent’s Perspective: The Adult Conversation on Youth Mental Health Is Missing the Mark

By Glen Weiner
January 27, 2026

Welcome to “One Parent’s Perspective.” In this new blog series, I’ll explore topics related to youth mental health and wellbeing, sharing my perspective as both a parent and my role leading the Coalition to Empower our Future (CEF), including learnings and insights from conversations with experts, educators and young people themselves. 

I recently found myself in a spirited discussion with my college-aged nephew, the kind that starts casually and quickly turns revealing. It began with my daughter lamenting our decision to hold off on getting her a phone, which turned into a discussion about phone bans in schools, which brought us to the broader debate over youth mental health challenges. Without prompting, my nephew pushed back hard on a familiar claim – that overuse of social media and phones is the leading driver of the decline in youth mental health. He was adamant that, while phones and social media can amplify stress and distractions, they are not responsible for the challenges his generation faces.

That exchange stuck with me because it reflects a broader problem in how we approach youth mental health. Faced with rising anxiety, depression and disconnection among young people, many are understandably eager for solutions. Too often, though, we gravitate toward narrow answers that promise quick relief. Focusing on one factor, such as the overuse of devices, risks obscuring the larger, more complicated reality our kids are living in.

Youth mental health challenges do not stem from a single source. They are shaped by a web of interrelated pressures that look different for every child. Some young people struggle with social isolation or relentless academic expectations. Others face housing or food insecurity, exposure to violence, bullying or limited access to mental health care. Many spend less time outdoors and in unstructured play than previous generations. Technology intersects with these issues, but it does not replace them. 

This is why comprehensive, lasting solutions matter. Policymakers and community leaders need to listen to a wide range of voices before settling on fixes. Parents, educators, clinicians, community organizations and young people themselves all see different parts of the picture. Further, each young person’s experience is unique, and those challenges may look very different for each person. When those perspectives and that backdrop are brought together, we are more likely to understand what practical tools and resources families actually need to support youth wellbeing.

Instead of reactive, one-off actions, we should focus on approaches grounded in partnership and prevention. That includes normalizing conversations about mental health so kids feel safe asking for help. It means strengthening connections between schools, families and communities to identify and support at-risk students early. It also requires addressing root causes such as poverty, stigma and gaps in care, rather than waiting for problems to escalate.

We also cannot ignore that we live in an increasingly digital world. Young people will use devices and engage online whether adults approve or not. Given that reality, digital and media literacy education is a critical component of the solution. Parents deserve guidance and support to help their children build healthy online habits. Young people need skills to navigate digital spaces thoughtfully, critically and safely, and to recognize when technology is helping them connect and when it is time to log off.

My nephew may be right that phones and social media are not the main drivers of youth mental health challenges. Or he may be underestimating their impact. Either way, his perspective underscores an essential truth. Overuse of devices is one piece of a much larger puzzle. If we address it in isolation, without tackling the many other forces shaping young people’s lives, we will continue to fall short. Our kids are asking for solutions that match the complexity of their world. The adults would be wise to heed their words. 

###