Are Today's Teens Really Struggling? A Look at Mental Health vs. Traditional Success Metrics

10/22/24 • 13 min

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In this episode of the Celebrate Kids podcast, Dr. Kathy explores the evolving standards by which we gauge adolescent well-being. While statistics show that high school graduation rates are up, smoking rates are down, and youth drug use is declining, many teens report increasing struggles with mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Dr. Kathy discusses the disconnect between traditional measures of success and the contemporary realities of adolescent life, questioning whether the goalposts for teen success have shifted. She emphasizes the importance of addressing mental health alongside tangible achievements, urging listeners to consider how societal perceptions of youth may impact their well-being. Tune in for valuable insights on navigating the complexities of growing up in today's world.

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Celebrate Kids Podcast with Dr. Kathy - Are Today's Teens Really Struggling? A Look at Mental Health vs. Traditional Success Metrics

Transcript

00:00:00.207

The other day I heard a report on how kids are doing these days, and it made me wonder, are we gauging kids today by the same standard that we were gauged years ago? Do we kind of always just hope that teens are doing worse than we were? Sometimes I think the way we look, especially at kids and teens, can really put them in a dark place, and also us as parents, in places of fear. Well, today on the Celebrate Kids podcast, in this daily segment, Facing the Dark, Dr. Ca