Is our current society a safe place for young people to be themselves and learn resilience? Are we offering our young people the nutritional support and physical outlets that their systems require in order to self-regulate and thrive?
According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, half of all 13 - 18 year olds have had a mental illness at some point in their life, and one out of 5 is said to have had a “seriously debilitating mental illness.” The use of psychiatric drugs is escalating wildly. These statistics call into question who is profiting from these diagnoses and whether we’re looking at the whole picture.
Using research on the microbiome, the gut-brain connection, changes in soil microbiology and agricultural practices, and the role of connection in human resilience and development, Didi Pershouse (author of The Ecology of Care and founder of the Center for Sustainable Medicine) offers a whole-systems perspective on “mental illness” and brain function. She will lead participants through exercises for developing strong communities of peer support, and outline a strategic plan for young people, educators, parents, and healthcare providers to grow a generation of zestful, empowered, and grounded young leaders for the next generation.
