🎧 Episode 13 – The Youth Mental Health Crisis: A Therapist’s Perspective

Host: Matt Butterman
Guest: Michael Hayes, LCMHC – Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Pathways Counseling, Winston-Salem, NC
Duration: ~40 minutes

In this powerful and timely episode of The Nimble Youth Podcast, host Matt Butterman sits down with Michael Hayes, a licensed clinical mental health counselor who works directly with teens and young adults navigating the growing mental health challenges of our time.

From skyrocketing anxiety and depression to digital overload and disconnection, Michael brings a therapist’s front-line insight into the emotional and developmental storm many young people are weathering. He also offers hope — not just through clinical wisdom, but through practical strategies for parents, teachers, and caregivers who want to support the next generation with clarity and compassion.

Together, Matt and Michael explore:

• 📈 How the youth mental health crisis has evolved since the rise of smartphones and through the COVID era

  
  

• 😟 The link between untreated anxiety, depression, burnout, and self-diagnosis

  
  

• 📱 The impact of technology, social media, and information overload on brain development and identity

  
  

• ⚠️ Mixed messages from authority figures, and how they fuel confusion and mistrust among teens

  
  

• 🧭 Why too many choices and a shifting job landscape can paralyze rather than empower young people

  
  

• 🧠 How screen addiction mimics substance withdrawal — and how to set healthy boundaries early

  
  

• ❤️ The importance of modeling resilience, curiosity, and boundaries as a parent or mentor

  
  

• ✨ Why embodied, real-world experiences — like volunteering — are essential to healing and growth

  
  

• 🙌 Glimmers of hope in a generation that, despite the noise, still shows empathy, engagement, and purpose

Key Quote:
 "You cannot afford to be intimidated by your children or by the fact that they have a perspective that differs from yours. They are watching closely — and your example matters more than you know." — Michael Hayes

🔗 Resources & Mentions:

• Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World by Dr. Vivek Murthy

  
  

• Arthur C. Brooks, Professor at Harvard and author on happiness and purpose

  
  

• Fred Rogers’ quote: “Look for the helpers.”

  
  

• Pathways Counseling, Winston-Salem, NC
  
  

🎓 Next Episode:
 We’ll speak with an experienced educator about the use of technology in the classroom — both the drawbacks and the exciting possibilities of new tools in shaping how kids learn. Stay tuned!

📬 Subscribe and share:
 Visit www.nimbleyouthpodcast.com for more episodes and detailed show notes. If you find this episode helpful, please share it with someone who cares about youth mental health.