Youth mental health has become one of the defining public policy concerns of our time. Anxiety, depression, isolation, and behavioral struggles among children and teenagers are rising, and families across New Hampshire are searching for answers.
Governor Kelly Ayotte recently addressed the issue by criticizing Anthem Insurance for not covering certain mental health services for children. While her concern is understandable, the larger question remains: is expanding insurance mandates the best solution, or should state leaders take a broader look at what is driving the crisis in the first place?
If a child needs mental health treatment, insurance coverage certainly helps. But mandates imposed on private insurance companies come with consequences. Every additional requirement placed on insurers increases costs for families already struggling to afford coverage. More regulations also tend to favor large insurance companies that can absorb compliance costs while driving smaller competitors out of the market. Over time, consumers are left with fewer choices and higher premiums.
Instead of relying primarily on mandates, lawmakers should also consider ways to expand competition and choice in the insurance market. Families who want stronger mental health coverage should have more affordable options available to them, not fewer. We can now get pet insurance, filling in an area of insurance that benefits pet owners.
At the same time, policymakers must examine what may be contributing to the sharp decline in youth mental health.
One major factor is technology. New Hampshire schools recently moved to restrict cellphone use in classrooms because of concerns over distraction, cyberbullying, and online predators. But removing phones while placing a Chromebook in front of every student all day may not solve the underlying problem.
A growing number of parents, teachers, and researchers are raising concerns about excessive screen time in schools. Critics of 1:1 device programs point to reduced attention spans, addictive online behavior, sleep disruption, increased anxiety, and less face-to-face interaction among students. Even many educators now question whether constant digital learning has produced the academic or emotional benefits that were promised.
Technology certainly has a place in education. Students should learn computer skills and understand digital tools. But there is a difference between teaching technology and structuring an entire school environment around screens.
State leaders should also recognize the important role families, churches, and community organizations can play in supporting children. Organizations like National Alliance on Mental Illness acknowledge that faith and spirituality can positively impact mental health for many people. Pastors, rabbis, and community leaders across New Hampshire could be valuable partners in helping young people who are struggling with loneliness, anxiety, or hopelessness.
Schools themselves are also being asked to fill too many roles at once. Teachers are expected not only to educate students, but increasingly to serve as counselors, social workers, and mental health coordinators. School teachers, social workers and counselors should not become substitutes for licensed mental health providers. Students with serious mental health needs deserve access to trained clinical professionals in settings designed specifically for treatment and privacy. Diverting mental health resources to schools instead of qualified providers should be reexamined.
New Hampshire should absolutely address the youth mental health crisis. But lasting solutions require more than pressuring insurance companies. State leaders should examine the broader environment affecting children — including technology use, school policies, family support systems, and access to outside clinical care — while pursuing solutions that are both effective and fiscally responsible.
Governor Ayotte should make sure the conversation includes all the factors contributing to the problem, not just insurance coverage alone.
