Addressing the Mental Health Crisis Among Youth

In this podcast episode, Dr. Laurie Santos discusses the mental health crisis among young people, particularly college students. She shares her personal journey of transitioning from studying non-human primates to becoming an expert on happiness. Dr. Santos explains the concerning statistics related to depression, anxiety, and loneliness among college students, emphasizing the need to take the crisis seriously and address it. She highlights the importance of changing the culture of achievement and reevaluating our priorities, shifting the focus from external rewards to internal well-being. Dr. Santos also provides evidence-based strategies for increasing happiness, including social connection, exercise, sleep, gratitude, and taking time for leisure. She encourages individuals to start with small steps and have accountability partners to sustain behavior change. Overall, the podcast explores the students' mental health crisis and offers insights on promoting well-being in young people.