140: Rethinking Teen Mental Health: Real Talk with Ross Szabo

In this episode, I sit down with Ross Szabo—mental health advocate, author, and Wellness Director at Geffen Academy at UCLA—to explore how vital it is that we rethink our approach to mental health. We discuss the difference between emotions and mental health disorders, why using the right mental health vocabulary matters, and what families can do to normalize mental health the way we do physical health. If you've ever wondered whether your teen is struggling or just going through “a phase,” this episode offers a fresh, practical perspective—and some much-needed support.

🎙️ Topics include:

• What mental health really means (and why most of us define it wrong)
• Why Gen Z still struggles to ask for help
• The difference between healthy coping and harmful numbing
• How parents can model emotional regulation and build trust
• When to act, what to say, and how to know if it’s serious

Whether you're a parent, a teen, or an educator, this episode offers practical advice on taking proactive steps to improve mental well-being and developing a framework for understanding mental health.

🔗 For more on the summer program for Educators: Geffen Academy Mental Health Education Institute

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