Show Notes
Whether it’s watching a young person struggle with a social situation, lose sleep to social media, experience loss, feel school stress, consider self-harm, or try to support a friend, so many adults worry about how kids are coping emotionally in an increasingly complex world. How can we adults help?
Dr. Lisa Damour, a psychologist and author, who has spent decades working as a clinician and researcher. Her three books about young people and their mental health are written to help adults better understand and support kids. In this episode, Dr. Lisa Damour brings us a world of wisdom about the struggles of today’s young people and how adults can respond, both generally and specifically.
This episode was recorded with a live audience at The City Club of Cleveland, and the audience contributed some wonderful questions of their own.
We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at [email protected] with your feedback & ideas.
(02:46) What is the current state of teen mental health?
(06:10) How should we think about mental health?
(07:38) When should parents intervene in their kids’ mental health?
(09:43) Is adolescence different for the current generation?
(11:05) Why are kids sleeping less?
(13:19) What is the primary job of parents, in terms of mental health for kids?
(17:44) How can parents talk with kids about self-harm?
(20:30) How can we help kids find balance about things that trouble them?
(22:45) When can parents expect the peak of emotional swings in adolescence?
(25:12) Are kids more fragile these days?
(27:49) Are kids experiencing loneliness?
(29:45) Are online friendships as deep as in-person friendships?
(31:14) Do kids of different genders form friendships differently?
(32:58) How can we help boys initiate deeper friendships?
(34:31) Can we get past societal expectations of what boys and girls feel?
(38:19) What role can school play in supporting emotional well-being?
(40:27) How should parents approach technology and social media for kids?
(46:46) What gives Lisa Damour hope?
(48:01) What is the mental health status of college-aged people?
(51:55) How does privacy work for young people seeking mental health support?
(53:54) How can we help young people who are feeling apathetic?
(56:42) How badly do tech devices interfere with sleep and what to do about it?
(58:51) Can we manage kids’ devices while allowing them to feel connected?
Dr. Lisa Damour, Psychologist and Author
Instagram: @lisa.damour
Twitter: @LDamour
Facebook: @lisadamourphd
About Dr. Lisa Damour
Dr. Lisa Damour is the author of three New York Times best sellers: “Untangled,” “Under Pressure,” and “The Emotional Lives of Teenagers.” She co-hosts the "Ask Lisa" podcast, works in collaboration with UNICEF, and is recognized as a thought leader by the American Psychological Association. Dr. Damour is also a regular contributor to The New York Times and CBS News.
Dr. Damour serves as a Senior Advisor to the Schubert Center for Child Studies at Case Western Reserve University and has written numerous academic papers, chapters, and books related to education and child development. She maintains a clinical practice and also speaks to schools, professional organizations, and corporate groups around the world on the topics of child and adolescent development, family mental health, and adult well-being.
Dr. Damour graduated with honors from Yale University and worked for the Yale Child Study Center before earning her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Michigan. She has been a fellow at Yale’s Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy and the University of Michigan’s Power Foundation. She and her husband are the proud parents of two daughters.
More from House Calls with Dr. Vivek Murthy
As Dr. Murthy's term as the 21st U.S. Surgeon General comes to a close, House Calls is ending, too.
As Dr. Murthy prepares to conclude his term as Surgeon General, the moment is , the moment is bittersweet: serving as Surgeon General has been the honor of his lifetime, and saying goodbye is hard.
On a recent trip to India, the Surgeon General sat down with the delightful and inspiring father-daughter duo of Aamir and Ira Khan. Aamir is a renowned and beloved actor and producer, appearing in some of India’s biggest films. Ira Khan is founder of the Agatsu Foundation, a peer support and counseling center in Mumbai.
“You can re-imagine anything.” This was life advice that fashion designer Phillip Lim was given by his mother. His family escaped the Khmer Rouge and came to America as refugees. They had no resources and had to start over from scratch. Somehow, Phillip rose to become one of the most successful fashion designers in the world. He started his label 3.1 Phillip Lim with his business partner when they were both just 31 years old. In this heartfelt episode of House Call, we catch Phillip in a moment of evolution, surprising the fashion world by stepping away from his company and starting a new, unknown chapter in his life. As he opens up about his continuous journey of becoming, of re-imagining his life, Phillip and the Surgeon General ponder: how do you distinguish between success and fulfillment? How does being part of a community help our mental health? Why is creativity and sense of play so important? What is the connection between beauty and the values we live? While they come from very different worlds of medicine and fashion, Phillip and the Surgeon General are both guided by love of community, a desire to help others, and the inspiration of their mothers. (02:46) What role has Phillip Lim’s mom played in his life? (06:20) How did Phillip Lim maintain a sense of optimism in his early life? (09:20) How did curiosity and creativity put Phillip Lim on an unexpected path? (15:27) How did Phillip Lim navigate the competitive world of fashion? (18:54) What practices does Phillip Lim use to stay grounded? (23:02) What is the difference between success and fulfillment for Phillip Lim? (26:33) How can we find the courage to make big life changes? (31:58) How is Phillip Lim building community and advocating for mental health? (42:32) What message does Dr. Murthy have for Phillip Lim’s mother? (48:05) Phillip Lim asks Dr. Murthy for advice on empowering others to be seen, heard, and show up for each other. We’d love to hear from you! Send us a note at [email protected] with your feedback & ideas. For more episodes, visit www.surgeongeneral.gov/housecalls.
Do you feel you can no longer talk with people who hold different opinions? Has anger become the predominant tone? If we want this to change, how can we as individuals, change the way we talk and connect when we differ?