I’m not alone in feeling powerless when I hear another heartbreaking story about a young person struggling with anxiety, depression or loneliness. First, ask yourself, “What happened?” Then, “What can I do about it?”

When the challenges are this serious, it is understandable that we are drawn to simple solutions. If one thing is causing the problem, then removing that one thing should fix it. That kind of thinking is appealing because it offers certainty in a moment that feels anything but.

However, parenting has taught that very few shortcuts actually work. Raising healthy, resilient kids has never depended on one decision or one rule. It comes from hundreds of small choices, caring relationships and environments that help children grow into confident adults.

That is why I have become increasingly convinced that we cannot ban our way out of the youth mental health challenge.

Technology and devices certainly play a part and need to be looked at. Recent developments in Australia offer an important reminder that complex problems rarely have simple answers.

Australia became the first country to prohibit most social media accounts for children under 16. Early researchsuggests that many teenagers continue to access social media despite the law, often by working around age restrictions. Researchers also found little evidence that the policy has substantially changed adolescent social media use. The lesson is not that protecting kids is impossible but that government mandates by themselves cannot solve a challenge so deeply rooted in many parts of children’s lives.

If we focus all of our energy on one policy, we risk overlooking everything else that contributes to young people’s wellbeing. Parents get this. In research conducted by the Coalition to Empower our Future, three-fourths of parents agreed that such a narrow approach could have unintended negative consequences.

Just think about how childhood has changed over the last generation. Many kids spend less time outside than previous generations. Opportunities for unstructured play have become harder to find. Sports and activities are wonderful, but they often leave little room to explore the neighborhood, build a fort, ride bikes with friends, or use imagination without adults directing every moment.

Academic expectations have also intensified. Students face increasing pressure to perform, prepare for college and build resumes before they have even finished middle school. For many children, there is a constant sense that they are being evaluated.

At the same time, many families are carrying enormous financial stress. Parents working multiple jobs, unstable housing, food insecurity and limited access to mental health care all affect children’s emotional well-being.

No simple solution can erase those realities. When we talk about youth mental health, all of these factors matter. If we want healthier kids, we should make it easier for families to spend time outdoors. We should create more opportunities for creative play and meaningful connection. We should ask difficult questions about the pressures we place on students. We should strengthen support for families facing economic hardship. We should continue improving access to quality mental health care.

None of these ideas alone is a silver bullet. Together, though, they begin to look like the kind of comprehensive approach that our children deserve.

That is why I am grateful for the conversations the coalition is fostering. The goal is not to defend the status quo or dismiss legitimate concerns. The goal is to resist the temptation of false choices.

We do not have to choose between online safety and stronger families. We do not have to choose between appropriately equipping children to use technology safely and providing better support for schools. We do not have to choose between protecting children today and helping them build resilience for tomorrow.

The youth mental health challenge is too important and complex for quick fixes. Raising a child teaches that meaningful change usually takes patience. It takes listening. It takes collaboration. Most of all, it takes a willingness to recognize that children are unique and shaped differently by every part of the world around them.

Glen Weiner is the executive director of Coalition to Empower our Future, an organization dedicated to a conversation on youth mental health. He wrote this for InsideSources.com.