SoundMind App Investor Dr. Venus Nicolino Points Out the Signs of Worsening Youth Mental Health — and How To Address Them
American teenagers have cooled on behaving dangerously in ways that once dominated headlines. Federal research shows that in recent decades, they’ve made strides in lowering the teen birth rate, diminishing cigarette smoking and alcohol use, and lessening OxyContin abuse. Simultaneously, mental health challenges have soared among children and adolescents. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic, which exacerbated the already deteriorating situation.
In the 10 years before the pandemic, feelings of persistent sadness, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors increased by 40% among young people, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During this period, more children and adolescents visited emergency rooms for anxiety, mood disorders, and self-harm. Suicide rates among youths between the ages of 10 and 24 remained stable from 2000 to 2007 — but rates leaped by nearly 60% by 2018, according to the CDC.
Los Angeles Times bestselling author and doctor of clinical psychology Dr. Venus Nicolino, Ph.D., agrees that youths’ mental health is in crisis. Such declining mental states are a “national emergency,” according to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Children’s Hospital Association.
“Kids today face a tidal wave of new pressures and threats adults never had to deal with growing up,” Dr. Nicolino says. “They see highlight reels of doom based on news reports, which are then rehashed by reaction videos. Every problem in the world pops up on kids’ social media feeds. The world’s weight is in their faces and on their shoulders.”
Dr. Venus Nicolino Describes Youth Mental Health Red Flags and How To Address Them
As a renowned doctor of clinical psychology, Dr. Venus Nicolino recognizes the red flags of deteriorating mental health in teens and preteens. She says, “Teens and preteens will show signs such as excessive isolation, withdrawal from social interactions, persistent sadness, and changes to eating habits.”
Parents and teachers can observe youths’ behaviors without making a diagnosis. But behaviors should be closely monitored for indications that a consultation with a mental health professional is needed. The American Counseling Association lists the red flags:
- Excessive sleeping
- Low or nonexistent self-esteem
- Loss of interest in favorite pastimes
- Declining academic performance
- Loss of appetite
- Self-mutilation
- Excessive isolation
- Abandonment of social circles
- Unexpected weeping or extreme moodiness
- Expressions of hopelessness or worthlessness
Dr. Nicolino says positive mental health markers involve consistent behaviors, explaining, “Moodiness in teens and preteens is expected, but if they are engaged at school, have friends, and regularly participate in family activities, those are good signs.”
The Sound of Music: Studies Promote Music’s Positive Results on Mental Health
Is there a teen in your life who vibes with the music of Taylor Swift? Does this teen sing strains of “You Need to Calm Down” with the verve of an Italian opera singer? Does she get a little too loud?
If so, she’s unwittingly improving her mental health. A new report from the Global Council on Brain Health shows that music — singing or playing instruments — benefits brain chemicals such as dopamine and oxytocin, which promote happiness and pleasure. There is enough evidence to believe music can also help lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
A recent World Health Organization report reveals that experts are increasingly advocating listening to and making music to improve human-related quality of life.
JAMA published a systematic review and meta-analysis, “Association of Music Interventions With Health-Related Quality of Life,” which revealed fascinating findings. It showed that using music interventions — such as listening to music, singing, and music therapy — can significantly improve mental health. The results revealed more minor improvements in physical fitness.
How SoundMind’s Co-Founders, Travis Chen and Brian Femminella, Created an App That Delivers Calm and Clarity
Music affects mood, and this phenomenon has widespread implications. During the pandemic, friends Travis Chen and Brian Femminella discovered a way to deliver mental health care digitally through music therapy. As a mission, they wanted to give users an app to bolster America’s flimsy mental health care system. They launched SoundMind in November 2021.
The app uses research-backed music therapy to ease users’ trauma, depression, and anxiety. A composing team creates specialized audio designed for therapeutic use. To give the app some personality, users can create a custom character called a “soundie” as a mental health “buddy.” The app also connects users with resources like the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
Dr. Venus Nicolino saw SoundMind’s potential to help those with mental problems. The possibilities led her to become the app’s lead angel investor and now, SoundMind’s owner. She says she’s seen excellent results: “We know sound [music] has been correlated with self-esteem and reduced feelings of worthlessness. Thus it enhances resilience, the ability to regain control of one’s life, and the sensation of community connectedness. Binaural beats have even shown promise in coping with PTSD.”
She recommends the SoundMind app to help on-the-go youths beat the statistics. Between its high quality and portability, SoundMind is like having a therapist on call 24/7.
“SoundMind offers mental health therapy to any young person anywhere,” Dr. Venus Nicolino says. “SoundMind can help young people get a little further down the road with every download. Often, five minutes worth of positive feelings produces hope, which can carry a person through the day.”