Timestamps :

00:00 — Introduction & teen mental health statistics

01:47 — John Perricone's background and why he became a teacher

03:00 — From classroom teacher to national keynote speaker

06:38 — The "Developing Inner Strength" assembly origin story

08:23 — A defining difficult experience: the "narc" rumor story

14:15 — Facades and social masks — why teens hide who they are

16:37 — Understanding and addressing bullying

20:50 — Origins of the suicide prevention program

22:18 — Common warning signs of suicide risk

27:11 — Why suicide rates differ between males and females

28:44 — Do suicidal people really want to die?

29:48 — The cardinal rule of suicide prevention

31:02 — The one thing every teen should remember

33:27 — Where to find more of John Perricone's work

33:54 — Recap of key takeaways

Desc :

In this powerful episode of The Holistic Kids Show, hosts Zane, Abdullah, and Emad sit down with John Perricone — a 31-year veteran health educator, karate practitioner, and bestselling author of Zen and the Art of Public School Teaching — to tackle one of the most urgent issues facing teens today: mental health and suicide prevention.

With teen girls experiencing record levels of sadness and suicide now the leading cause of death for young people ages 10-34, this conversation couldn't be more timely. John shares the personal experiences that shaped his life's work, including a harrowing high school rumor that taught him the destructive power of peer pressure, and the phone call from a suicidal student that changed the course of his career.

Topics covered include:

• How childhood "unconscious assumptions" shape our adult relationships and conflict styles
• The psychology of social facades and why most people are too busy worrying about themselves to judge you
• Why bullies bully — and how to build the inner strength to not let broken people break you
• Critical warning signs of suicide risk that teens often miss in their friends (including sudden happiness, giving away possessions, and "goodbye talk")
• Why suicide rates differ between males and females, and what society teaches young men about suppressing emotion
• The cardinal rule of suicide prevention: act, and build a support network
• A simple, universal piece of advice: always be kind

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

This podcast is for informational purposes only. The statements and views reflected in this podcast are not to be taken as medical advice.

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Learn more about Dr. Madiha Saeed at https://holisticmommd.com, or follow her on social media @HolisticMomMD