Emerald, who has anxiety, says attending college in person instead of virtually has made her anxiety worse. The 18-year-old also says that being on social media heightens the problem.

“Basically, it’s an uncontrollable situation that you’re put in when you’re on social media, and so that gives people the access to reach out to me without me having the control of them reaching out to me,” she says.

Emerald’s stepmother, Natalie, is a social worker and school counselor. Natalie says she believes the last two years, during the social isolation of the pandemic, were the worst ever for mental health. She also says that often, parents don’t know how to help their struggling teens.

“I think sometimes that parents haven’t done their own work, and so they have kids without maybe actually looking at their own childhood stuff. And so then, when their children are struggling, it triggers the stuff that they haven’t resolved, and then you have two people who are struggling,” says Natalie.

Part one of this two-part episode, “Inside America’s Teen Mental Health Crisis," airs Tuesday.

And on Wednesday’s conclusion, “A Teen’s Near Fatal Decision,” Dr. Phil talks to a young woman who says she regrets trying to kill herself after battling with mental health issues.

Check your local listing for airtimes.

If you or someone you know are experiencing a mental health emergency, call or text the National Suicide & Crisis lifeline by dialing 9-8-8, or reach out to http://988lifeline.org


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