Our Kids Are Not OK - Episode 9

 Surgeon General Report: He noted in this report that 1 in 3 teenage girls reports feeling “sadness and hopeless” on a regular basis. This is a 40% (FORTY PERCENT!!) increase since 2009. That’s HUGE! Surgeon General Advisory: Youth Mental Health Crisis - Conservative Ladies of Washingtonsurgeon-general-youth-mental-health-advisory.pdf (hhs.gov)  Why American Teens Are So Sad - The Atlantic"Since 2009, sadness and hopelessness have increased for every race; for straight teens and gay teens; for teens who say they’ve never had sex and for those who say they’ve had sex with males and/or females; for students in each year of high school; and for teens in all 50 states and the District of Columbia." Social Media Use: Why would social media affect teenage mental health in this way? One explanation is that teenagers (and teenage girls in particular) are uniquely sensitive to the judgment of friends, teachers, and the digital crowd. As I’ve written, social media seems to hijack this keen peer sensitivity and drive obsessive thinking about body image and popularity. The problem isn’t just that social media fuels anxiety but also that—as we’ll see—it makes it harder for today’s young people to cope with the pressures of growing up. “It’s well established that what protects teens from stress is close social relationships,” Steinberg said. “When kids can’t go to school to see their friends and peers and mentors, that social isolation could lead to sadness and depression, particularly for those predisposed to feeling sad or depressed.” The kids are not alright | WORLD (wng.org) - Kristen WaggonerThere’s a tragic amount of evidence that the kids are not alright. Some students are falling behind in core subjects while schools dedicate more time to curricula that divide and demean. Others, manipulated by teachers and peers, believe they’re born in the wrong body and should lie to their parents, who are equipped to offer love, advice, and care. While parents can’t always make all things right in their children’s world, we can—and must—challenge government-funded efforts to confuse and divide.(14) Julie Barrett (@juliecbarrett) / Twitter(10) Julie Barrett Womansplaining | FacebookHome - Conservative Ladies of Washington This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit juliebarrett1.substack.com