#13 - The Kids Aren't Alright (Essay Review)

After a short break, we're back with the first episode of the year.

We kick off 2023 with a review of a powerful essay written by Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff titled "The Teen Mental Illness Epidemic Began Around 2012" .

The article reveals alarming new statistics on the rise of mental illness in younger generations  and how we can no longer afford to accept the long accepted null hypotheses that this is business as usual.

James and I break down the problem, identify some of the leading causes and discuss how physical expression and activity is an essential step in moving towards a solution. 

The mission of the Fitness in Youth podcast is to;

• Explore new ways to help make youth fitness a priority, fun, and for them
• Empower parents, policy makers and professionals with the tools to help their communities, today
• Elevate the intentions of the health & fitness industry, for the better (long-term)

About the hosts:

• James Fitzgerald - OPEX Fitness
  • James FitzGerald is the founder of OPEX (Formerly OPT) and The International Center for Fitness. When not coaching, he’s a full time husband, father and fitness athlete. His 20+ years of experience and service as a strength coach/technician, tireless practice on refining energy system work, nutritional and lifestyle balancing techniques and training of other coaches has made OPEX a sought after method of bringing fitness to a higher order.
• Dan Young - YOUNGTraining
  • Formerly a professional water polo player, Dan found an insatiable thirst for knowledge on how he could align and optimize behaviors to improve his performance as an athlete. This lead him to make the transition from athlete to coach and pay forward the knowledge and tools he acquired working under some of the industries best. His passion is working with the youth, to give them the tools to navigate their health long term and in so doing, change the landscape of the fitness industr...