Episode 10: The Impact of Comparison on Mental Health: Social Media + Boarding School

Today's episode is Part 2 of my conversation with Ms. von Jess, a social worker of 30 years and the Director of Counseling at The Hotchkiss School, where she has worked for the past 12 years.Ms. von Jess and I spoke about how social media affects mental health, particularly in the context of high-pressure environments like boarding schools. She describes Instagram and TikTok as “both exposing and comforting,” and invites students to reflect on whether their online behavior is helping or hurting their self-image as well as how they treat others.We also explore the impact that living in a residential community has on a teen’s mental health, especially at a place like Hotchkiss where students between the ages of 13 to 20 live together and constantly transition through different developmental phases. Ms. von Jess emphasizes that with each year, students face new responsibilities, and with that, perhaps a need to lean on a counselor’s shoulder.She also discusses common misconceptions around therapy, including the idea that one needs to have a "major" issue to seek help. Ms. von Jess encourages students to use the resources available, explaining how talking to a counselor can reduce self-judgment and in turn, create a more compassionate community.Thank you, Ms. von Jess, for your wise words and warmth. I hope you all will tune in for Part 3 of our conversation!