Survey finds mental health high on list of parents’ concerns

>> 40% OF PARENTS IN THE U.S. WORRY ABOUT THEIR CHILD’S MENTAL HEALTH MORE THAN THINGS LIKE BOWLING OR TEEN PREGNANCY. >> THERE ARE A LOT OF GOOD — REALLY STRESSFUL EVENTS. WHY IS MENTAL HEALTH AT THE TOP? >> WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS I MISSED OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. PARENTS ARE WORRIED. THEY ARE ALSO WORRIED ABOUT THINGS RELATED TO ACCESS AND THERE IS A TREMENDOUS SHORTAGE OF MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDERS. THERE ARE ISSUES AROUND INSURANCE COVERAGE AND COST. WHAT WE DON’T KNOW AND DON’T UNDERSTAND ALSO OFTEN UNDERSTAND — OFTEN SCARES US. >> IS ANYTHING DIFFERENT ABOUT THE CHALLENGES KIDS ARE FACING NOW COMPARED TO YEARS OR DECADES PAST? >> THERE WAS A LOT DIFFERENT. SOME OF THE THINGS THAT MAY GET A LOT DIFFERENT AS THEY ARE UNDER MORE PRESSURE TO COMPETE AND PERFORM. THEY ARE OFTEN OVERSCHEDULED. THEN THERE WAS ALSO SOCIAL MEDIA. THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN THE CYCLE OF TRYING TO COMPARE AND ACHIEVE A GOAL THAT IS OFTEN UNATTAINABLE OR UNREALISTIC. THERE IS OFTEN A BLURRING OF THE LINE BETWEEN WHAT IS REAL AND WHAT IS FANTASY. WHAT ARE SOME WAYS TO START THAT CONVERSATION? GRANTS WE HAVE TO START HAVING THEM. WE HAVE TO MAKE THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE PART OF OUR REGULAR CONVERSATIONS. HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS ON A WALK OR AT THE DINNER TABLE. EVEN WHEN YOU’RE WRITING IN THE CAR. THESE CONVERSATIONS REGULAR CONVERSATIONS. KIDS NEED TO BE COMFORTABLE AND NEED TO FEEL THEY CAN SHARE WHATEVER IS ON THEIR MIND. ASK THEM HOW THEY ARE FEELING OR WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THEM. YOU DON’T SEEM LIKE YOURSELF. >> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

Survey finds mental health high on list of parents’ concerns

Updated: 6:23 PM EST Feb 2, 2023

A new survey finds 40% of parents in the US worry more about their child’s mental health than bullying, substance abuse, and teen pregnancy.

BOSTON —

A new survey finds 40% of parents in the US worry more about their child’s mental health than bullying, substance abuse, and teen pregnancy.