As the new school year begins, parents across the United States are expanding the “village” they rely on for their children’s mental‑health needs. A recent Grow Therapy survey of 1,386 parents of children under 18 reveals that the average parent now names 2.35 sources of support for their child’s emotional well‑being.
Professional help on the rise
Nearly 82% of parents report having sought professional mental‑health support for their child, a notable increase from 62% reported in Grow Therapy’s 2025 Student Mental Health Report. This upward trend suggests that more families are recognizing the value of clinical resources such as school counselors, therapists, and other qualified providers.
Traditional support still important, but less sole reliance
Family and friends remain the most common source of assistance, cited by 52% of respondents. However, only 10% rely exclusively on these informal networks. An additional 43% combine family and friends with other resources, while 48% have built a support system that does not include family or friends at all.
Digital tools gaining foothold among younger parents
Use of technology in mental‑health support varies by age. Among parents aged 18‑29, 19% turn to AI chatbots and 25% engage with social‑media or online communities for guidance, compared with 6% and 10% respectively among parents 46 and older.
Stressors and concerns are growing
The survey indicates that 47% of parents say their child has experienced noticeable stress, anxiety, or sadness during the school year, up from 41% a year ago. Social challenges with peers are the top‑cited factor (47%, up from 34%), followed by bullying or exclusion (37%, up from 23%) and academic workload (36%, up from 30%).
Barriers to care are also increasing
While more families are seeking help, obstacles are rising. A child’s resistance to assistance grew from 11% to 28%, and the share of parents who felt judged by others rose from 8% to 20%. Logistical hurdles such as not knowing where to start increased from 19% to 29%, and cost or insurance issues rose from 18% to 26%.
Schools seen as falling short
Among parents with children currently in school, 45% say their school provides some mental‑health support but not enough, and 13% say schools do not support student mental health at all. Parents request more mental‑health education (44%), better school‑parent communication (41%), stronger anti‑bullying programs (37%), and greater access to school counselors or psychologists (36%).
What parents value most for their children’s well‑being
When asked about their biggest concerns for their child’s future, 59% named overall happiness and mental‑well‑being, ahead of a stable, well‑paying career (47%) and affordable housing or starting a family (both 39%). Unstructured activities such as time with friends (52%) and time outdoors (50%) are seen as the most beneficial for mental health, surpassing organized sports or creative hobbies.
Methodology
Grow Therapy conducted the online survey from July 17‑21, 2026 via Centiment. The sample of 1,386 parents is unweighted, with a margin of error of approximately ±3 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. Year‑over‑year comparisons are directional, as the 2025 data were collected by YouGov using a different sampling method.
This story was produced by Grow Therapy and reviewed and distributed by Stacker.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
