Mendi Baron, psychotherapist and founder of Moriah Behavioral Health Services in Las Vegas, appeared on the Watching Mental Health podcast, hosted by Katie Rose Waechter. Nevada and other states are currently facing a teen mental health crisis. Nationally, about 20% of adolescents ages 12-17 have a diagnosed behavioral or mental health condition.
In the podcast, Baron shed light on the complexity of navigating life as a teen today and what parents, teens and states can do to help them. Early in the show, Baron discussed how technology has put its stamp on teen mental health concerns, particularly with bullying, which was in the past limited to school face-to-face interactions.
“Nowadays when you’re bullied in the schoolyard, it’s not just the schoolyard. Out come the cell phones. Now you’re on social media, now you’re on the internet. Now 10 other schools are watching, now you’re everywhere,” he said.
The pandemic also still has an influence on teen mental health concerns, Baron added. Teens lost two years of socialization and interpersonal skills training because of it, and the pandemic has contributed to increases in suicides, eating disorders and hospitalizations, the expert noted.
Improving teen mental health outcomes requires efforts on all fronts: parents, teens themselves, schools and state legislators, according to Baron. Here are the keys to change that the expert emphasized in the show.
- Creating moments: Parents must create cell phone and distraction-free time with their teen, even if it’s just an hour a week.
- Setting boundaries: Too many parents are still trying to be friends with their children, Baron said, setting healthy boundaries is important and “the ultimate form of love in this situation.”
- Parents educating themselves: Parents need a better understanding of what their teen is exposed to. They can read books, talk to professionals and other parents. “You don’t have to reinvent the wheel, ask for help,” Baron said.
- Create a village: It still does take a village to raise a child. Get involved with parents in your network, avoid being socially removed, the expert reminded the audience.
- More resources for schools: Schools are understaffed and undertrained when it comes to mental health. Legislators must prioritize funding for more teacher training and more mental health professionals hired.
- Insurance regulation: Baron works in Maryland, California and Nevada and says insurers face particularly lax regulation in the Silver State. “Insurance companies run amok, and cover whatever they want and don’t want,” he said. There are very few checks in place to ensure that they cover mental health services, and that needs to change, Baron added.
Watch the show on the Watching Mental Health podcast page, or to learn more about Moriah Behavioral Health at MoriahBehavioralHealth.com.
