New research shows adults want expert advice on kids’ mental health
New research commissioned by The Kids Mental Health Foundation has found that the majority of adults experience a significant knowledge gap between their recognition of the importance of supporting kids’ mental health and their knowledge of the daily habits kids need to boost mental wellness. In a 2025 Ipsos survey of nearly 1,700 adults, only about one-third of parents strongly agreed they knew the daily habits they should use to boost children’s mental wellness. Less than half of teachers and coaches strongly agreed that they knew how to address the mental health concerns of the young people they teach, coach and lead.
Helping kids can be challenging, especially for those parents, teachers or coaches who only learned about mental health as adults. That’s why, as Mental Health Awareness Month begins, The Kids Mental Health Foundation is spotlighting the message “Kids’ Mental Health Starts with Us” and demonstrating the ways in which The Kids Mental Health Foundation’s free tools and resources can empower parents, teachers and coaches across the United States.
“Not every child needs a doctor or therapist. Kids’ mental health starts with us,” Executive Clinical Director Dr. Ariana Hoet said. “There are things we can do every day to help kids build mental health and wellness skills.”
Dr. Hoet stresses that adults can start small by talking to children about their thoughts, feelings and experiences. By using The Kids Mental Health Foundation’s resources for starting conversations to check in with kids in an open-ended way, adults can establish trust, help kids solve problems and build their confidence.
“Kids’ trusted adults are often ready to help kids solve problems,” said Associate Clinical Director Dr. Whitney Raglin Bignall, “but many aren’t sure how when it comes to supporting their mental health. The Kids Mental Health Foundation offers them free, accessible resources to support children’s mental wellbeing before a crisis or concern.”
These resources, which address anxiety, bullying, emotions, behavior management and much more, have already impacted over 24 million lives in the United States. Three million classrooms have used The Kids Mental Health Foundation’s lesson plans and videos. Although some materials are tailored to the specific concerns of parents, caregivers, teachers and coaches, any adult can benefit from the resources. All resources are freely available at The Kids Mental Health Foundation.
The Kids Mental Health Foundation began in 2018 as The On Our Sleeves Movement for Children’s Mental Health and became The Kids Mental Health Foundation in 2024. The Foundation, founded by Nationwide Children’s Hospital, is guided and driven by its clinical expertise. In 2024, Nationwide Children’s Hospital was listed on U.S. News & World Report’s Honor Roll of best children’s hospitals for its 11th consecutive year. Home to The Big Lots Behavioral Health Pavilion, America’s largest center for child and adolescent behavioral and mental health on a pediatric medical campus, Nationwide Children’s is a leader in pediatric behavioral health research, prevention and treatment.
Members of the editorial and news staff of USA TODAY Network were not involved in the creation of this content.
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