What's REALLY Behind America's Mental Health Crisis?

Anxiety.

Depression.

OCD.

Mental health diagnoses have skyrocketed over the past few decades, especially in children and young adults. Kids who can't cope with reality are becoming the norm rather than the exception. Most parents passively accept that their children were "born anxious" and there's nothing they can do about it. But is this really true?

In the 1990s, doctors began telling parents not to give peanuts to young children, out of fear that the children would have allergic reactions. At the time, doctors and parents assumed that avoiding peanuts would make children healthier and less prone to allergies. However, the opposite was true. When children were not exposed to peanuts early in life, they were MORE likely to develop a peanut allergy. It turns out that our immune systems are wired to fight off danger. When we don't get enough exposure to potential "threats" early in life, our immune systems start seeing danger where there isn't any.

Researchers are starting to believe that the same thing is true of our brains. Our brains are wired to notice and respond to potential dangers. If we don't get exposed to enough risky/difficult situations, we fail to develop self-confidence and coping skills. Our brains begin to see completely normal situations as difficult and unsafe. Helicopter parenting, or a very controlling parenting style, is strongly correlated with mental disorders later in life. These parents attempt to keep their children's lives stress-free, but instead they end up creating MORE stress for their children in the long run.

Of course, no matter what their parents do, a small percentage of children will develop a peanut allergy anyway. Likewise, some people will develop mental health problems despite the best efforts of their parents. I'm not denying that genetic disorders and chemical issues are real. I'm only saying that genetics can't explain why we've seen such a sharp increase in mental health disorders over the past few decades. Parenting and other environmental factors are a much more likely cause.

Risk-taking and independence are real human needs, just like food and shelter. If parents want their children to be mentally healthy, they have to encourage healthy risk-taking. When appropriate, children should be allowed to make their own decisions and be responsible for their own needs. For example, instead of nagging your 10-year-old to do his homework, allow him to keep up with his own assignments. Also, it's important to let children face the natural consequences of their choices. Let's say that your 10-year-old doesn't do his math homework. He might get a zero on the assignment, or he might have to stay inside and do the assignment during recess. As a result, your child learns the importance of keeping up with his assignments.

Yes, it can be difficult for parents to watch their children struggle. It's very tempting for parents to take control of a situation because they, as adults, tend to be more knowledgeable than their children. However, it's important for children to struggle—and maybe even fail—every once in a while. Failure is a learning opportunity, and some lessons are best learned through experience. Plus, removing challenges from your child's life will only undermine his/her self-esteem. That's like telling your child, "I don't think you're capable of handling this. You're not smart/strong/determined enough."

Of course, there are situations in which parents should intervene—for example, if there is a genuine safety issue. There is no need for children to participate in activities with a high risk of severe physical injury. There are much better ways to develop a healthy sense of risk-taking. Also, children should never be allowed to participate in illegal activities such as stealing or underage drinking. Without intervention, this type of behavior can become a chronic habit. And for older kids/teens, one mistake can stay on their record for life.

In the long run, sheltering children from the real world will do more harm than good. Yes, children need security and guidance, but they also need opportunities to take risks, try new things, and develop skills through trial and error. Independence is a basic human need that's been neglected for way too long—and our society has suffered as a result.