During this episode of the Grim Drive Podcast, where we explore mental health through the lens of professional sports and athletes, we discuss the Youth Mental Health Epidemic in the United States.

Recently Vivek Murthy, the Surgeon General of the United States designated the collective mental health of youth in the US an epidemic. With levels of depression, anxiety, and suicide among youth increasing consistently even before the Covid-19 pandemic, and worsening still more since, the situation is dire. In this episode, we discuss the many factors that have lead to this situation, as well as some possibles solutions for how to improve things. We also discuss the national referee shortage in youth sports and how it relates to “the great resignation” also happening recently in the US labor force.

*The Grim Drive Podcast is a way for people to learn about mental fitness, mental health, and mental illness, through the lens of sports. We want to do our part to further reduce the stigma associated with mental health by highlighting the athletes who have shown strength through vulnerability, spoken up, and spoken out. We want to provide listeners with mental health education, to raise awareness and reduce risk, maximizing the path to mental fitness.

As a reminder to listeners/viewers, please leave us a review on apple podcasts, or comment on one of our youtube videos with any thoughts. We guarantee we will respond to all comments and would love the chance to have a dialogue about some of these topics with anyone who is interested to discuss.

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