The Importance of Mattering for Youth Mental Health

In this podcast episode, Jennifer Brihany Wallace discusses the concept of mattering and its impact on youth mental health. Mattering refers to the personal belief that we are valued for who we are, away from external achievements. Research has found that people who feel valued and are dependent on to add meaningful value to others are more likely to thrive in adolescence and adulthood. However, today we are facing a mattering deficit, which negatively affects youth mental health. Mattering offers a framework for protecting youth mental health by meeting their deep universal need to feel seen, cared for, and valued by those around them. It reassures them that simply being themselves is enough, regardless of external pressures.