What does a parent do when a child says, “I want to die”? In this episode of Mental Health Momentum, Silicon Slopes Director of Mental Health Awareness and licensed psychologist Dr. David Morgan sits down with Aimee Winder Newton, founder and principal of AWN Strategies, to talk about youth mental health, suicide prevention, social media, and the urgent need to support families before they reach a crisis point. As a Salt Lake County council member, Aimee brings years of experience in public policy, family advocacy, and community leadership. And as the inaugural director of the Utah Office of Families, she helped advance initiatives involving youth mental health education, social media protections, home-visiting programs, family-friendly policies, and resources designed to improve outcomes for children. But her commitment to this work is also deeply personal. In this episode, Aimee recounts the night her son came to her and said he wanted to die. With her husband out of town and no clear understanding of where to turn, she took him to an emergency room and began navigating a behavioral health system that felt confusing even to someone serving in county government. That experience helped shape her advocacy for clearer crisis resources, including Utah’s work surrounding the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and strengthened her conviction that families need simple, accessible information before an emergency occurs. Together, Aimee and Dr. Morgan discuss: What parents can do when a child expresses suicidal thoughts. Why families need clearer pathways to mental health crisis support. How Aimee’s family experiences shaped her public policy work. Why youth mental health requires prevention as well as treatment. The connection between social media use, anxiety, depression, and loneliness among young people. Why communities cannot rely solely on therapists and hospitals to solve the youth mental health crisis. How open conversations can reduce shame and help families seek support sooner. Dr. Morgan and Aimee also explore the growing strain on the mental health system. As more young people recognize that they need help, families frequently encounter therapist shortages, long waiting lists, and uncertainty about which level of care is appropriate. That reality makes upstream prevention increasingly important. Rather than waiting until children reach a breaking point, Aimee argues that parents, schools, healthcare providers, technology companies, and policymakers must examine the conditions contributing to declining youth mental health. Finally, Aimee discusses efforts to protect children from online harms and encourages families to look honestly at how screen time may be affecting sleep, relationships, self-image, anxiety, and depression. Her previous work included social media education and policy efforts intended to protect Utah children and strengthen family connections.
