WARNING: Although this episode is not about suicide, I do read a portion of a teenager’s suicide letter at the beginning of the show. If you’d rather, you can skip ahead approximately 1 minute.

You’re likely well aware that overall teen mental wellbeing has been in decline for a while, and the pandemic has made it that much worse. But even before the pandemic one area of research has, over a period of several years, uncovered a surprising trend. More and more teens feel tremendous pressure to not only succeed academically but to excel in as many ways as possible to be sure to get into a good college. Our narrow view of “success” is taking an enormous toll on our high achievers. Is it time to redefine “success” to improve our teens’ mental health and wellbeing?

Access TRANSCRIPT here.

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