Written by Naomi Nye, Family Coach
Naomi specializes in helping teens tackle negative behavioral patterns, addictions, anxiety and depression. Her passion for youth and family well-being led her to establish Teen Rockstar Entrepreneur, offering vital life skills for success. Alongside this initiative, she organizes community events & hosts the Teen Rockstar Entrepreneur podcast.
We’re witnessing an alarming rise in mental health struggles and behavioral issues among today’s youth, but what’s really going on? Too often, we approach these issues like hamsters on a wheel, endlessly trying to “fix” problems without ever addressing their root cause. We diagnose, medicate, and impose consequences, hoping for a quick fix. But what if the real problem is being overlooked?
We’ve reached a point where even therapy isn’t enough—not because therapy itself is ineffective, but because we’re treating symptoms instead of addressing the underlying causes.
If we truly want to help our teens, we need to step back and examine what has changed in our homes, schools, and society over the past two decades.
What societal shifts have contributed to this crisis?
What everyday habits are shaping their mental health?
And, most importantly, what can we do to reverse this trend and help our teens build resilience, confidence, and emotional strength?
Let’s break down the biggest contributing factors and explore what we can do to turn things around.
1. Social media & digital overload
The rise of smartphones and social media after 2012 aligns almost perfectly with the decline in teen mental health.
Teens who spend 3+ hours a day on social media are twice as likely to suffer from anxiety and depression. (Journal of Adolescence)
70% of teens feel worse about their lives after scrolling. (RSPH UK Study)
Within 30 minutes of signing up, many teens are exposed to self-harm and eating disorder content. (Center for Countering Digital Hate)
Beyond just wasting time, social media distorts reality, making it harder for teens to develop confidence, independence, and real-life coping skills.
Time spent on phones vs. Real-life development
Teens today spend an average of five hours per day on their phones. To put that into perspective:
We sleep six to eight hours daily.
We work or attend school for another eight hours.
We spend three to five hours on food prep, eating, cleaning, and shopping.
Additional time is spent on showers, bathroom breaks, commuting, and other daily tasks.
Now, if the average person lives 79 years:
30 years are spent sleeping.
30 years are spent working.
Four years are spent eating.
One year in the bathroom.
300 days showering.
That leaves only 10 to 15 years of free time across a lifetime.
If teens are spending at least five hours a day on social media, that’s equivalent to almost eight years of their lives—time that could have been spent discovering passions, developing skills, socializing in person, or exploring nature.
Instead of engaging in activities that build confidence, creativity, and resilience—like playing outside, drawing, making music, or simply having face-to-face conversations—teens are consuming content that fuels anxiety, insecurity, and disconnection from reality.
Teens who spend more time on screens and less time on face-to-face interactions are significantly more likely to report feelings of loneliness and unhappiness.
Solution: Set boundaries
Implement tech-free zones at home, encourage real-world hobbies, and limit social media exposure. Help teens use their time for meaningful, skill-building activities instead of passive scrolling.
2. The food crisis: Fueling mental and physical health issues
The alarming rise in chronic illnesses, behavioral issues, and developmental problems among today’s youth is no coincidence. Before movements like MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) gained attention, experts had already been warning about the dangerous shift in children’s diets.
One in three kids is diabetic or pre-diabetic.
Forty percent have ADD or ADHD
One in eight teens has fatty liver disease, a condition once seen primarily in middle-aged alcoholics.
America has the earliest puberty rates in the world, with girls as young as seven showing signs of early development.
What is causing this health crisis?
A staggering 70 percent of the average child’s diet consists of ultra-processed foods, loaded with toxic chemicals, preservatives, and artificial dyes that are banned in many countries but still legal in the United States.
Take Yellow Dye 5 (Tartrazine), for example. It is found in cereals, yogurts, cough syrups, vitamin water, and even chewable vitamins. Most parents do not realize this dye is derived from petroleum, the same substance used to produce gasoline.
Studies have linked Tartrazine to:
Asthma
Developmental delays
Intestinal damage
Anxiety and hyperactivity
Depression and erratic behavior
Hormone disruption and gene damage
Autism and even cancer
These toxic additives are not just found in junk food. They are being served in schools, where kids consume them daily.
What is the link between food and teen behavior?
Food is fuel for the brain, and when that fuel is filled with chemicals, it directly impacts mood, focus, and mental stability.
🔹 Studies have found that ultra-processed foods and artificial additives contribute to:
Increased hyperactivity and attention disorders, worsening ADD and ADHD symptoms.
Emotional instability and mood swings, including anxiety, depression, and aggression.
Chronic fatigue and lack of motivation, leaving teens feeling "off" without knowing why.
Brain fog and learning difficulties, making it harder for students to concentrate in school.
This means that many behavioral issues, attention disorders, and emotional struggles are not just phases or personality traits. They are symptoms of what kids are eating every single day.
Solution: Making food an educational experience
Instead of just telling kids to eat healthier, we need to involve them in the process, making food an engaging, hands-on experience that gives them ownership of their health.
Turn food research into a challenge. Have your teen look up the ingredients in their favorite snacks and research how those chemicals affect their health. Reward them for uncovering hidden toxins. Who can find the most harmful ingredient?
Prepare meals together. When teens participate in cooking, they are more likely to care about what they eat. Teach them how to read labels, choose whole foods, and cook simple meals.
Take them grocery shopping. Let them pick real, whole foods while pointing out which processed foods to avoid.
Challenge their taste buds. Many teens are picky eaters because they have been conditioned by processed food. But when they help prepare meals, they become more open to trying new foods.
Lead by example. Kids model what they see. If you prioritize real food, they will too.
At the end of the day, changing food habits is not just about health. It is about empowerment. When teens understand how food affects their mind, body, and mood, they gain the ability to take control of their well-being, a skill that will serve them for life.
3. The school learning environment: a system in decline
Over the past two decades, schools have shifted from places of academic growth and social development to environments that are actively harming students’ mental health.
Anxiety, depression, behavioral issues, and even suicidal ideation among youth have surged. Much of this mental health crisis is directly linked to what is happening inside schools.
The breakdown of healthy socialization
Rather than fostering emotional strength, resilience, and critical thinking, today’s schools have become breeding grounds for:
Bullying and cyber harassment. Social media has made bullying relentless. Instead of escaping it at the end of the school day, kids face attacks around the clock, leading to self-harm, withdrawal, and increased anxiety.
Academic pressure and burnout. Schools prioritize standardized testing over practical problem-solving, leaving students overwhelmed, disengaged, and mentally exhausted.
Indoctrination and labeling. Many schools push divisive ideologies, labeling students as oppressors or oppressed based on race, gender, or identity. This damages self-worth and fuels division.
Hypersexualization of children. Comprehensive sex education has become disturbingly explicit, exposing children to inappropriate content at a young age. Some schools have introduced graphic materials, condoms, and sexual organ models at elementary-level events.
Instead of allowing kids to develop naturally, this distorts their perceptions of relationships, intimacy, and self-respect. It often leads to confusion, early exposure to risky behaviors, and anxiety.
The collapse of discipline and classroom order
Student violence has increased by 60 percent since 2019.
One in three school leaders report more fights.
Half of teachers report frequent classroom disruptions.
When schools fail to enforce boundaries, students push limits, sometimes dangerously, creating an environment that stunts emotional growth and maturity.
The emotional fragility crisis
At a time when kids need resilience, schools have adopted Social Emotional Learning (SEL), a system that, rather than providing mental health solutions, often acts as unstructured group therapy led by untrained teachers.
Instead of teaching practical coping skills, students are encouraged to share emotional struggles but are not given real strategies to overcome them.
The consequences?
More emotional fragility. Kids struggle to handle setbacks because they were never taught how to push through difficulty.
Entitlement replaces perseverance. They expect the world to accommodate their feelings rather than learning how to adapt and grow stronger.
Safe spaces replace accountability. Rather than confronting challenges, kids are taught to avoid discomfort.
But life is not a safe space. When these students enter the real world, they quickly realize that resilience is not optional. It is essential.
The bigger picture: How this is impacting our teens
All of these factors—lack of discipline, emotional fragility, and a chaotic school environment—are shaping a generation of young people who feel lost, weak, and unprepared for life.
Teens need structure, discipline, and resilience, not safe spaces and victimhood.
They need real-world problem-solving skills, not participation trophies.
Schools were once designed to prepare students for life. Today, they condition kids to see themselves as victims, fragile and dependent on external validation.
If we want to reverse this trend, we must demand better:
Hold schools accountable for academic excellence, not political agendas.
Teach resilience, not fragility.
Reinforce discipline, not lawlessness.
Equip kids with real-world skills, not a manufactured victim mindset.
If we do not take action now, we will continue to see teen mental health decline at the cost of an entire generation’s future.
The real solution: Rebuilding connection
Teens today are overstimulated but emotionally disconnected.
Teens who feel genuinely connected to their families are far less likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts.
A strong sense of belonging strengthens resilience, making it easier to handle setbacks and challenges.
When teens have real-world interactions, they develop better emotional intelligence, communication skills, and self-worth.
How to help teens reconnect
Create tech-free connection time.
Set "no-phone zones" during meals, car rides, and family time.
Use this time for conversations, storytelling, and laughter.
Engage in shared activities.
Outdoor adventures: Hiking, biking, fishing, or playing a sport.
Hands-on projects: Building something, fixing a car, gardening, or baking.
Volunteer work: Helping others gives teens a sense of purpose.
Model emotional resilience.
Show them how you handle stress, setbacks, and failures with resilience.
Let them see that struggles are part of life, but how we respond to them is what matters.
Helping your teen build the skills they need to thrive
If you are a parent who is ready to help your teen develop essential life skills like resilience, emotional regulation, and effective communication, I invite you to join us at TRE Academy.
Our academy is packed with courses, workbooks, and practical resources designed to equip teens with the tools they need to navigate life’s challenges with confidence.
Starting in April, we are resuming our live coaching sessions—a chance for your teen to get real-time guidance and support to help them build a strong mindset and take ownership of their growth.
Access a library of powerful materials to support your teen’s personal development.
Engage in live coaching sessions for direct mentorship.
Join a community of like-minded parents and teens committed to growth and resilience.
Give your teen the advantage of a strong foundation. Click the link below to learn more and get started today!
Read more from Naomi Nye
Naomi Nye, Family Coach
Naomi Nye is a leading authority in personal development, specializing as a family coach for mothers and youth seeking guidance when their teens are grappling with life pressures, addiction, or impulsive behavior. Inspired by her own challenging upbringing and subsequent journey of healing, Naomi recognized the crucial importance of coping skills in navigating life's adversities. Motivated by this insight, she founded the Teen Rockstar Entrepreneur Organization and Foundation, where she serves as CEO, alongside hosting the Teen Rockstar Entrepreneur Podcast.
