Kids These Days

Discover why most attempts to fix teenagers fail and what to do about it

Anxiety, depression, self-harm, substance use disorders, and teen suicide—despite having more counselors, educators, experts, and medications than ever before, today’s young people are suffering from a mental health epidemic. Exploring a range of factors contributing to this wicked problem—from social media, overprotection, and environmental toxins to the erosion of connection—Kids These Days clearly identifies what works for raising happy and healthy youth, and what does not.

This essential guide is an unflinching examination of the failings of the mental health industry, and a call to action for adults to stand up against interference, harmful interventions, and ideologies negatively impacting our children. Both therapists, parents, and researchers, Will Dobud and Nevin Harper:

• Engage leading voices in adolescent well-being—mental health professionals, scientists, doctors, and parenting gurus—to discover why most attempts to fix teenagers fail
• Distill the last twenty years of research and clinical practice to identify the causes and potential cures for the growing youth mental health crisis
• Show how social connection, mastery, gratitude, and independence promote emotional and psychological resilience in the next generation.

It’s time to stop labeling youth and recognize them as the heroes of their own stories. Whether as parents, guardians, therapists, educators, or other role models, we need to build trust and foster relationships while helping the young people in our lives negotiate the adventure of adolescence. Our kids are not broken. What really needs to change is the adults these days.