Solving the Teen Mental Health Crisis

The youth mental health crisis has been building for decades, and the modern world has amplified its effects. From the impact of social media and screens to the overwhelming messages of inadequacy and fear, young people are navigating an increasingly complex mental health landscape. I explore how these factors erode their executive functioning skills and self-trust, leading to higher rates of anxiety and depression. This episode offers practical tools for parents, teachers, and counselors to reconnect young people with their sense of belonging, purpose, and capability.

Resources & Links

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Watch the video of this episode at the blog: https://jodiaman.com/blog/youth-mental-health-crisis/
• Dr. Jodi Aman’s YouTube Channel: @DoctorJodi
• Generation Z Mental Health Resource Guide: jodiaman.com/guide
• Redirect Positive Mindset Cards jodiaman.com/order-redirect-flash-cards
• EnCompass SEL Class Activity jodiaman.com/order-encompass-game
• Anxiety, I'm So Done with You! Book

Key Takeaways on Supporting Youth Mental Health

1. The Pandemic’s Impact is Still Here
   The pandemic disrupted critical developmental stages for many young people, particularly in their social and emotional growth. Teens missed out on milestones like graduations, first jobs, and even basic social interactions. This has led to heightened social isolation, difficulty forming relationships, and a sense of "lost time."

What You Can Do: Help teens rebuild social skills through structured activities, mentorship programs, or community engagement.

1. Technology is a Double-Edged Sword
   While digital media and AI offer opportunities for connection and learning, they also present challenges like cyberbullying, comparison culture, and screen addiction. The constant stream of notifications can keep young people in a state of heightened alert, contributing to anxiety, dopamine deregulation, and poor sleep.

What You Can Do: Encourage healthy digital habits, such as screen-free time zones, mindful content consumption, and face-to-face interactions.

1. Economic Pressures Weigh Heavy
   Rising living costs, student debt, and an uncertain job market have created significant stress for Gen Z. Many feel overwhelmed by societal expectations to succeed while facing fewer opportunities than previous generations.

What You Can Do: Provide resources on financial literacy, goal setting, and stress management to help young people navigate these challenges.

1. Climate Anxiety is Real
   Climate change is no longer a distant threat—it’s a present reality. Many young people feel a deep sense of responsibility to fix the world’s problems, which can lead to feelings of helplessness and burnout.

What You Can Do: Encourage small, actionable steps like joining local environmental groups, reducing personal waste, or advocating for policy changes.

1. Community is a Lifeline
   A strong sense of belonging can significantly improve mental health, yet many young people feel isolated. The pandemic disrupted traditional community structures, leaving many without access to supportive networks.

What You Can Do: Foster connection through peer support groups, volunteering, and extracurricular activities.

1. Understanding the Brain’s Role in Resistance
   Anxiety often convinces young people that they are inadequate or incapable, which leads to resistance in taking on tasks or responsibilities. This resistance is a natural brain response to conserve energy, but it can feel overwhelming.

What You Can Do: Teach young people about how their brains work. Help them reframe resistance as normal and empower them to take small steps toward their goals.

1. Building Executive Functioning Skills
   Modern conveniences have reduced the need for daily survival tasks, which historically helped humans develop problem-solving skills and resilience. This decline in executive functioning skills can make young people feel less capable.

What You Can Do: Assign chores, encourage goal-setting, and celebrate small achievements to help young people build trust in their abilities.

Thank you so much for listening to Ask Dr. Jodi! If you enjoyed today’s episode, please take a moment to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts and share it with someone who needs inspiration or help to heal!  

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About Dr. Jodi: 

Jodi Aman is a social work doctor with 28 years of experience in clinical practice. She helps clients heal from trauma, understand the world, and reclaim self-confidence. She created C.O.M.P.A.S.S., an emotional wellness curriculum for middle and high school health classes designed to mitigate symptoms of anxiety and depression.

You can find hundreds of self-help videos on YouTube @doctorjodi. Also, watch her TEDx Wilmington talk, "Calm Anxious Kids," and read her award-winning book, Anxiety… I'm So Done with You! to learn how to understand and reverse the current mental health crisis. More about Jodi.

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Welcome to Ask Dr. Jodi, where you get trauma-informed mental health and relationship advice you won’t hear anywhere else. Advice that helps you breathe a sigh of relief.

You’ll discover that your brain is not broken...that, whatever you are feeling, it is understandable. You are having a regular human response to the context of this crazy world. But that doesn’t mean you are destined to stay like this. You can get better. And we're here to help.

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