As a new school year begins, a growing number of parents with children aged 1 to 18 are sounding the alarm about their kids’ well-being. A newly released national poll from the University of Michigan’s C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital reveals that four out of five parents (83%) believe their children’s mental health is worsening.

This concern is understandable, as studies show that mental health issues like anxiety and depression are showing up in children at an increasingly younger age. National data shows that 14% of 9 and 10-year-olds have reported suicidal thoughts, with more than 1% attempting suicide.

“That age range has definitely shifted,” says Cheryl Eskin, Senior Director of Teen Line. “We’re hearing from more youth under 13 through our hotline.”

Eskin notes that constant exposure to news, social issues, and online content leaves teens more vulnerable to anxiety than previous generations, who were often shielded from such stressors. She adds that many parents today tend to overprotect their children, which can hinder the development of resilience. Without opportunities to face and overcome challenges, teens struggle to build coping skills.

However, recent findings suggest some improvements in mental health trends among older youth. The 2024 Healthy Minds Study—conducted by the Healthy Minds Network at the University of Michigan and Boston University—reports a decline in symptoms of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts among college students, alongside increased access to mental health care and support. Similarly, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found a decrease in major depressive episodes among young adults ages 18 to 25.

According to Sarah K. Lipson, associate professor of health law, policy, and management at Boston University, and principal investigator of Healthy Minds, it was the second consecutive year of improved outcomes in the study’s 15-year history.

These trends suggest that increased awareness, intervention, and access to support are making a difference. The heightened concern among parents may actually reflect growing recognition of mental health issues, not just a worsening crisis.

Supporting this idea, research featured on Sciencedirect.com introduces the prevalence inflation hypothesis, suggesting that rising mental health awareness may be contributing to the increase in reported mental health issues. The relationship is described as bidirectional: more mental health problems lead to greater awareness efforts, and those awareness efforts, in turn, may cause more people to recognize and report symptoms.

The Healthy Minds study also shows that use of mental health therapy among students with depression or anxiety rose slightly, while the percentage of students taking psychiatric medication also increased. And attitudes toward mental health treatment remain largely positive, with only 7% expressing personal stigma.

“I’ve always felt academic stress when it comes to school. There’s been a constant pressure to get good grades and stay focused, which can be overwhelming. I’m not the fastest learner, so it usually takes me extra time and effort to fully understand things,” states Jimena Garcia-Prieto, a senior-year student majoring in geophysical engineering at the Colorado School of Mines.

Garcia-Prieto began therapy in high school during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, a challenging period that pushed many young people to confront their mental health for the first time. Through therapy, she learned to identify her emotions and develop healthier ways to manage them. Now a college student, she relies on a combination of coping strategies to handle stress and anxiety. Physical activity remains her go-to outlet; when she feels overwhelmed, she heads to the gym or goes for a run to reset and clear her mind.

“I think my mental health is better now than it was in high school or even as a freshman in college. I’ve learned to acknowledge what I’m feeling and understand how to cope with it,” shared Garcia-Prieto. “I can recognize what I’m feeling and respond in a healthy way.”

While growing awareness is encouraging, it doesn’t eliminate the need for strong day-to-day support systems. For children and teens especially, mental health isn’t just shaped by individual therapy or clinical diagnoses, it’s influenced by relationships, environments, and the presence of people they trust.

Although parents are often the first line of support, teens may feel more comfortable turning to others, especially during emotionally intense moments. That’s why access to trusted adults or peer-based resources, like Teen Line, is crucial for creating safe spaces where young people can open up.

This kind of support may help explain why mental health among older youth is showing signs of improvement. As teens transition into young adulthood, many gain access to more robust networks—on-campus counseling, digital tools, and fewer barriers to mental health care. While parents remain deeply concerned, especially about younger children, older teens and college students may be benefitting from a growing ecosystem of support that wasn’t as accessible in earlier stages of development.

Garcia-Prieto also found that building a sense of community on campus was a crucial part of her mental health journey. The transition to college initially left her feeling disconnected and alone. It wasn’t until her second year that she began forming strong friendships and getting involved in campus groups that gave her a sense of belonging. That shift made a significant difference, reinforcing how vital both access to care and a strong sense of connection are to emotional well-being.

But for teens who need more than just a sense of connection—or who are struggling in silence—mental health resources like those offered at the vast majority of colleges across the country, along with peer-support services like Teen Line, aim to fill the gap.

Eskin wants young people to know they don’t have to wait until they feel completely overwhelmed to reach out for support. “A key mission of Teen Line is to reach young people before problems become crises,” she says. The teen-to-teen hotline operates nightly from 6 to 10 p.m., and outside those hours, calls roll over to an adult-staffed crisis line to ensure someone is always available.

As mental health support systems continue to grow, it is clear that awareness, access, and community matter. But the disparity between rising parental concern and improving outcomes among older youth also highlights a critical challenge: ensuring that younger children have the same kind of early, meaningful support. Mental health care can’t wait until college; support must start earlier and be present in every space where children are learning to understand themselves and the world around them.