Student Mental Health, the Dangers of AI, and the Need for Human Connection

Your Podcast Hosts Angela and Davey discuss Dr. Howie Knoff's newest Project ACHIEVE Blog that highlights the pervasive mental health crisis among preschool through high school students, emphasizing that a significant number are struggling with internalizing and externalizing issues, often compounded by trauma. Dr. Knoff argues that schools frequently miss crucial opportunities for early intervention due to inadequate mental health screenings, threat assessments that especially overlook internalizing problems, and a national shortage of mental health professionals.     Angela and Davey address the concerning trend of adolescents (especially) seeking emotional support from AI, illustrating the dangers through a study on ChatGPT's harmful responses and a tragic suicide. In the end, they provide actionable strategies for administrators, mental health professionals, teachers, parents, and peers to better identify distress, promote media literacy, and offer human-centered support._ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Read the Full Text of this Podcast as a LinkedIn Newsletter: CLICK HERE Read the Full Text of this Podcast as a Project ACHIEVE Blog: CLICK HERE_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _    This Podcast emphasizes that school-aged students express distress in contemporary, culturally embedded ways. This “communication” does not always conveniently fit diagnostic frameworks. Research has long-confirmed that recognizing this language, completing diagnostic assessments, implementing a multi-tiered continuum of validated interventions, and lowering the barriers and access to human support makes a real difference.    AI is increasingly ubiquitous and available to school-aged students, but it is not built—or designed—to offer emotional guidance. This Podcast underscores a sobering reminder of that boundary.    Check out this NEWEST Podcast. . . and “Follow” us so that you get notified when every new podcast is released.