Pulse Check 2025: Mothers on Child Mental Health Impacts, Care, and Support
September 17, 2025
In-depth

In September 2025, Count on Mothers released findings from a nationally representative study of mothers across regions and the political spectrum on children's mental health needs, access to care, and family experiences navigating support systems. The study examines mothers' firsthand observations at home, in schools, and in healthcare settings to identify gaps in care and practical paths forward. Findings underscore the scale of unmet need, the central role of cost and insurance barriers, and the importance of school-based and family-centered solutions.

Related themes:

Child and Family Mental Health Access and Support

Shared Priorities and Cross-Partisan Alignment Among Mothers

Family Economic Security and Cost Pressures

  • Unmet mental health needs are widespread:
    Nearly 1 in 4 mothers (23%) who sought mental health support for their child could not obtain care when it was needed, most often due to cost.
  • Cost remains the primary barrier—even for insured families:
    Although 96% of families have insurance, more than half of mothers (51%) cite cost as the main obstacle to accessing mental health care for their children.
  • Private insurance is not delivering adequate access:
    Among mothers lacking sufficient access to care, 80% have private insurance, and fewer than half believe their plans provide adequate mental health coverage.
  • Children’s and parents’ mental health are closely linked:
    Mothers worried about their children’s mental health are significantly more likely to struggle with their own mental health, highlighting the interconnected nature of family well-being.
  • Availability does not equal usability:
    Even when services exist, families face practical barriers—including difficulty accessing therapists, inconsistent school-based supports, limited provider training, and scheduling constraints that make care inaccessible.
  • School-based supports emerge as the most effective solution:
    Across qualitative responses, mothers most frequently identified expanded, well-resourced school-based mental health services as the clearest and most actionable path to meeting children’s needs.

Source: Count on Mothers, Pulse Check 2025: Mothers on Child Mental Health Impacts, Care, and Support, September 2025. Nationally representative survey of U.S. mothers, n=2,700, weighted across political ideology and region. Funded by Inseparable, which provided subject-matter expert review of the survey instrument and pre-publication findings; Count on Mothers retained final authority over methodology, data analysis, interpretation, and publication. Research led by a PhD-credentialed researcher and an MPH data scientist.

Research Library

Explore Count on Mothers reports — rapid polls and in-depth national studies.

Methodology
Count on Mothers conducts nationally representative research with U.S. mothers, weighted to reflect the population and reported in aggregate. Research is led by a PhD + MPH team. Findings have informed policy, industry, and media, and entered the Congressional Record on childcare, paid leave, and technology policy.
In-depth

AI & Child Safety: Mothers' Views on a Rising Influence in Kids' Lives

In January 2026, Count on Mothers released findings from a nationally representative study of mothers across regions and the political spectrum on artificial intelligence's impact on children across home, school, and social settings — conducted in research collaboration with academic partners at the University of Chicago and University College London. Mothers assess potential risks, transparency gaps, and the need for institutional safeguards as AI becomes embedded in children's everyday environments. Findings describe a consistent message across political ideology, region, and education level: mothers are deeply concerned about AI's impact on children and overwhelmingly believe current deployments lack adequate protections.
January 16, 2026
View Report →
In-depth

Pulse Check 2025: Mothers on Child Mental Health Impacts, Care, and Support

In September 2025, Count on Mothers released findings from a nationally representative study of mothers across regions and the political spectrum on children's mental health needs, access to care, and family experiences navigating support systems. The study examines mothers' firsthand observations at home, in schools, and in healthcare settings to identify gaps in care and practical paths forward. Findings underscore the scale of unmet need, the central role of cost and insurance barriers, and the importance of school-based and family-centered solutions.
September 17, 2025
View Report →
In-depth

From the Heart of American Families: Assessing Mothers' Views on Recent Policy Actions

This report presents mothers’ views on early federal policy actions under the 2025 Administration, drawing on survey responses from 2,888 mothers across the United States collected between April and June 2025. Mothers rated their level of satisfaction and shared open-ended reflections based on lived experience. Findings reveal low overall approval, with economic pressures emerging as the dominant driver of dissatisfaction across political and regional lines.
July 15, 2025
View Report →
In-depth

The Real Cost of Health Insurance: Exploring Critical Challenges for U.S. Families

In February 2025, Count on Mothers examined U.S. families' experiences with health insurance affordability, coverage, and access to care. Drawing on a nationally representative survey of mothers across regions and the political spectrum, the study addressed five core questions: who drives healthcare decisions, rates of denied and delayed care, the administrative burden on families, differences between private and public insurance experiences, and the health and financial consequences for families. Findings describe systemic challenges in the current health insurance landscape — particularly among families with private insurance.
February 24, 2025
View Report →
To learn more about partnerships, visit Partner With Us
Exploring how independent benchmark data could inform your work?
Partner With Us