Utah DHHS Research Highlights Parent-Child Communication Discrepancy

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Published December 18th, 2025

Detected March 17th, 2026

Summary

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released research indicating a significant gap between parents' perceptions of their children's comfort in sharing feelings and the children's actual experiences. DHHS has launched a public awareness campaign, CHAT, to address this discrepancy and promote better family communication.

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What changed

The Utah Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has published research revealing a disconnect between parents' and children's perceptions of open communication within families. The study found that while 93% of parents believe their children feel comfortable sharing feelings, a substantial portion of severely distressed students reported not talking to anyone, and fewer than half of those seeking help turned to a parent. This highlights a critical gap in perceived versus actual communication and help-seeking behaviors.

In response to these findings, DHHS has initiated the CHAT public awareness campaign. This campaign aims to empower parents and caregivers in Utah to strengthen communication, build trust, and foster healthier family relationships, thereby improving youth behavioral health. The campaign will utilize various media channels to promote resources available at letschat.utah.gov and hablemos.utah.gov.

What to do next

Review DHHS research on parent-child communication discrepancies.
Familiarize with the CHAT campaign resources for promoting family connection.
Consider internal communications or training if applicable to employee well-being programs.

Source document (simplified)

New DHHS research shows a discrepancy between parent and child perceptions of connection
SALT LAKE CITY (Dec. 18, 2025)— The Utah Department of Health and Human Services(DHHS) recently conducted a parent-child relationship survey in an effort to better understand the dynamics of family connection in Utah. The results, when cross-referenced with data from the most recent Student Health and Risk Prevention (SHARP) survey taken by adolescents, highlight a critical disconnect between parental perceptions and the reality of youth experiences, particularly around mental health and open communication.

“When parents perceive communication is strong, but teens report the opposite, there is a breakdown that needs to be addressed,” said Nathan Malan, Epidemiologist at DHHS. “These survey results serve as a powerful reminder that connection is not just about presence, but that teens should feel safe communicating their feelings to a parent or trusted adult.”

The parent-survey investigated several key aspects of family communication habits, including how often they have family meals together, one-on-one time, meaningful conversations, and parental concern for youth mental health. A few key takeaways:

Despite 93% of parents agreeing their child feels comfortable expressing their feelings, 38.8% of severely distressed students (those feeling very sad, hopeless, or suicidal) reported not talking to anyone. Of those who did seek help, only 41.8% chose a parent, highlighting a gap between parental perception of comfort and the reality of help-seeking behavior.
Additionally, while Utah parents rate youth mental health as a major concern (5.75 on a scale of 1 to 7), the topic is infrequently discussed at home; only 5% of parents reported discussing feelings or emotions with their teens when asked about their last three conversations. Together, these findings underscore a significant gap between parental perception, concern, and real conversations happening with teens.

To combat these discrepancies, DHHS has developed a public awareness campaign to help families connect for healthy futures. The CHAT campaign aims to make sure all Utah children grow up with a strong foundation of good behavioral health, a key goal of Gov. Cox’s Built Here initiative, by empowering parents to strengthen communication, build trust, and create the kind of family relationships that lead to healthy futures.

Videos and other materials will be promoted across television, billboards, social media, and online, inviting parents and caregivers to learn more about the importance of connection with their teens at letschat.utah.gov (English) or hablemos.utah.gov (Spanish).

Interviews with Nathan Malan, Epidemiologist for DHHS, are available upon request.

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