On Point | Podcast Falling Behind: 'We're in jail with our emotions'
Aug 29, 2025
Michael Reichert, an expert in boys' education, Kevin Simon, Boston's chief behavioral health officer, and Richard Reeves, founder of the American Institute for Boys and Men, delve into the emotional struggles of teenage boys. They discuss rising loneliness and suicidal thoughts, stressing the need for emotional support and vulnerability. The conversation emphasizes redefining masculinity, nurturing relationships in schools, and creating safe spaces for emotional dialogue. Practical strategies for better mental health and emotional growth in boys are also highlighted.
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Peer Counseling Role-Play
- Haverford students role-played peer counseling with a ritual of compliments and steady eye contact to coax vulnerability.
- The practice called "the blender" uses proximity and touch to create safety for emotional disclosure.
Loneliness As Developmental Risk
- The State of American Men survey found 66% of men 18–23 agree with "no one knows me," signaling developmental precarity.
- Michael Reichert links that loneliness to systemic failures in how boyhood is structured and supported.
Suicidal Thoughts As A Systemic Signal
- Nearly half of men aged 18–23 reported considering suicide in the prior two weeks, a population-wide warning sign.
- Reichert calls this a canary-in-the-coal-mine revealing boyhood and institutional harms.
