State of Emergency in Adolescent Mental Health Podcast
This 30-minute podcast episode from the Center for Whole-Child Education addresses the adolescent mental health crisis, exploring how teachers, parents, and caregivers can support teens. Speakers discuss how the pandemic intensified teen mental health issues, compounded by the challenges of an under-resourced U.S. mental health system. The conversation emphasizes the need for a public awareness campaign to correct misinformation about mental health, eliminate stigma, and provide emotional wellness resources to families. It also highlights the importance of training for school staff—teachers, cafeteria workers, coaches, and others—so they can recognize signs of mental distress in youth. Specialized training on physical trauma is also seen as beneficial. This resource provides actionable insights for educators and leaders seeking to improve mental health support for students.