The Mental Health Mixtape

Jayla: Today guys, we're gonna be meditating. So the first step you're gonna do is take deep breaths. So we're gonna go in, out, in, out.

Edwin: Today, teens have more access to mental health resources than any other generation. It is easier to talk about mental health than it was back in the day. Teens and adults openly talk about therapy and seeking mental health treatment. 

In school nowadays, we are given the opportunity to learn in our own unique ways. More than any generation, we are more encouraged to discover our own individual paths. 

Jayla: We're gonna go one more time. In, out. 

Edwin: For example, there are now talk therapy apps. Some of them are made just for teenagers. There's yoga, there's meditation apps, and there's listening to music. 

Jayla: So now we're gonna think about a calm place that you feel safe at like the beach, sand, the ocean. 

Edwin: Even after all that, we're still called the anxious generation. Maybe that's what it's like to be a teenager. So many ups, so many downs, so many things to care about all at once. 

Or maybe it's because we have access to our phones at all times. The truth is, we really don't know.

Edwin: From the Boys & Girls Club of the Chattahoochee Valley, this is Mixtape to My Future, a teen-led show about navigating our lives in Columbus, Georgia. I'm your host, Edwin Brown. 

Jayla: I'm Jayla Shelley. 

Josiah: And I'm Josiah Porter. 

Karina: My name is Karina Miles. 

Devon: I’m Devon Cetoute. 

TJ: And I'm Trajae Bell.

Edwin: In today's episode, we'll take an inner look into ourselves. We'll talk about what tools we need to help better ourselves. 

But first, what gets us in a bad mental space anyway? 

Aster: Um, Drama and toxic people because of how things can escalate extremely quickly. 

Josiah: Yeah. 

Ronaldo: The thing that can put me in a bad mental space is being around those who are negative, uh, that do not have positive energy.

Josiah: What are things that can put you in a bad mental space? 

TJ: Um, basically being around disrespectful people, people who does not have manners, people who do not just be respectful towards other, also with their selves. I just don't like being around people with bad energy, so… 

Karina: I think some things that affects teens today, overthinking affects people's mental health a lot because, you know, people who don't have a disciplined brain or they don't know how to stop their thoughts, they're often more sad than people who can, which is why guided meditation is really important because meditating allows you to slow your brain down or like shut your brain down so that you don't have these thoughts running so fast. Because I feel like people who don't have a disciplined brain, they have less free will than people who do.

Josiah: I think what's wrong is the music, TikTok, Instagram. Because when this wasn't out, everybody was outside playing with their friends. Now everybody inside texting and being in group chats talking about other people, putting them on stories and stuff, putting personal business out. And I think that's just like messed up because back then it wasn't phone all day, computer. It was go outside. I stay out outside til the streets like turn out with my friends. And I'll go back in the house and go to sleep. Repeat. 

Karina: I agree with what you were saying as well because, you know, like, whatever you put your intention on, like, it'll start to grow into that. And, you know, like, whatever you take your attention away from, you know, it will start to disintegrate in your head and it won't matter to you anymore. So I feel like with people having their attention to social media, that's where, um, it starts to grow to and then it starts to form their personality as well.

Devon: But I also think, you mentioned music, and I think music has a significant role. It doesn't have the biggest, but I feel like it plays a significant role in how people see the world. Um, I don't want to generalize it like that, but so many people listen to specific genres of music and it kind of…

Jayla: Messes with their minds.

Devon: Yeah, it kind of paves the road of what it is they see and then they follow that. They hang around certain groups that voice their opinions on different things and then they follow into that and then it changes their thinking process and it changes the way, again, that they see things. 

Jayla: And also, like, they'll mix it with their trauma. They'll, like, mix how the person is saying the song and they'll mix it with your, with their trauma of what they grew up with or what they have saw. 

But it's affecting teens because it's some of the music they listen to.

Josiah: Some of the influencers they listen to, most definitely. 

Devon: I feel like a lot of influencers kind of take advantage of that ability to sway people. They maybe started off with whatever platform they're with, with a little grain of salt, maybe see how it's going to go. And then as soon as they see that people are taking little nibbles then they'll throw a whole cake out there. They'll see who comes and nibbles on that, then they'll throw whatever else and then it just becomes a continuous trend. 

Karina: That's why we as teens have to be selective to who we listen to and what we take away from it. 

Devon: And I think a lot of people don't really know what's good to listen to or what's information that is pertinent to what it is you're going through or should deal with and then what it is that people are just throwing out there for the money, the content, or whatever else.

Jayla: And what's also infecting teens today? I'm gonna just start it off by seeing a mask. Because some people will be like, Oh, I'm happy or I'm this person but really inside you, you're not that. Like, you want to show your true self, but you can't. 

Karina: Right, and they push those emotions away, and they come back worse.

Jayla: Like, they put their guard up. 

Edwin: That mask that Jayla described, it comes from pressure that teens deal with every day. Peer pressure, sure, but it's not just that. It comes from parents telling us how to act a certain way. From schools telling us to perform at the highest level. And just the pressure we put on ourselves.

But why do we put this pressure on ourselves? To win our parents approval? To maintain a certain image? Or is it to make ourselves proud?

Devon: Yeah, I think a lot of people put up a lot of mental blocks or walls, rather. So that way they can kind of ensure that they don't kind of put their guard down and let the right person beyond it. Um, but I think that, I feel like I have worn a mask once or twice or, who knows, maybe more than that. Being able to kind of acknowledge that you have sometimes worn a mask kind of allows you to see that there are some things that you could work on, that there's some things that you can acknowledge you don't kind of voice out that may need to be voiced out. 

Jayla: But some, some people do that because of their background or what their, what their parents have put in their mind or what they have went through when they were a little child. 

But that also affects how you grow up in life, like how, how you was thinking as a teenager and you keep thinking that and you let people keep putting that in your mind… I would just say, like, you're not gonna go nowhere because you're still stuck in that place. Like, you have to, like, get out of that place so you can move forward. Cause, I don't, nobody know what to do if you're just gonna stay stuck there. 

Edwin: For a lot of us, our image is formed at a young age. They say the first five to seven years of your life are the most important. But I don't really know if I believe that. I do think first impressions matter. But I think people get stuck thinking about the mistakes they made in the past, but that can hold us back. Instead, we can talk about it without shame and embarrassment. 

Josiah: What do you wish your younger self had done differently in life?

Aster: I wish, uh, my younger self would have picked better friends. 

Josiah: Okay. 

TJ: Well, um, since I'm still younger, 15 years old, um, I would want to say probably start getting out of my shell and talking to people. I was still shy and nervous to do so when I was younger, but I would want to still at least tried instead of just ignoring it. So, yeah. 

Devon: For the most part for me, I feel like it'sbeen, my younger self, I wish I could have told myself that confidence is key. Um, sometimes I feel like I've walked as long as I've walked just trying to remain humble. And I feel like there's a difference between, well, of course there's a difference between humble and confident, um, or confident and arrogant and I feel like that has kind of been a bridge for me because mentally I've always been one of those individuals that don't want to, I don't want to say or seem like I'm above everybody else. I just, I know what I'm capable of. Um, and that was one of the things that the Boys & Girls Club kind of helped me gauge myself towards. It’s just being able to be open, being able to understand that my success is my success. I can take pride in that. I can be proud of me. And I think that when I was younger, I would always stay in my head about how other people see me.

Jayla: I know some people, and also me, if I had a chance to go back and tell my younger self, some people that you can trust and you can't trust like everybody. People will always tell you or somebody will tell you, like your mom or somebody will say, everybody not your friend. Don't trust everybody. Like that's something I'm pretty sure almost every child was told, but if you just go back and tell your younger self, cause like I would go back and tell my younger self, everybody doesn't need a reaction. Everybody doesn't need the side they're trying to put out on you. Like when you're trying to, you're in the mix of trying to achieve something or in a goal and somebody's trying to get you out of your character, stay focused, look straight on, don't let nobody go left or right like the Wizard of Oz, they kept bringing in distractions. Just look forward, not backwards. 

Devon: I feel that. I feel that. For many people, they get off track when it comes to some of the smaller things. And that's just because so many of us kind of get this wide. I, I don't… 

Karina: Like, they feel the need to, um, express their side of the story to people that aren't listening.

Devon: Thank you. Thank you. 

Karina: Which is a waste of energy. 

Devon: Yeah, I feel like just so many people talk and walk with their eyes closed that they don't really acknowledge who, who to actually talk to. And one thing about mental health is sometimes it's okay to hold in information that doesn't need to be spread to everybody because again, not every, like Jayla said, not everybody is your friend. Not everybody is someone that you need to kind of have inside your inner circle. Finding healthy ways to kind of push out negativity or to, um, figure out healthy ways to deal with trauma, to figure out ways to, um, find friendships or healthy friendships, because your friendships also play a role in mental health.Because what it is your friends say to you have value, they, they hold meaning. 

You, cherish what it is your parents say. So when your parents say, um, different things to kind of, they, they may see it as something to kind of ensure that you take something away from what it is they're saying, but they may not really understand that that may not be the way that you're thinking. So the way that you think may be that they're belittling your ability to do something, or they're not fully acknowledging acknowledging your scope of understanding or… 

Karina: Discernment. 

Devon: Yeah. 

Edwin: Teens. Even though we're so close to adulthood, we're still just kids. And that's a tricky place to be. On one hand, we want to make decisions for ourselves. But on the other hand, we're easily influenced. And that can be harmful. 

At the Boys & Girls Club, we have a place where we can be ourselves. It's a place where we're encouraged to try new things. Everyone needs someone and somewhere to go talk. Not everyone has that.

Josiah: What do you wish was available for teens to help with their mental health? 

TJ: Um, trustworthy parents. Um, like trusting adults who people can rely on. Um, some parents always tell their children's personal, especially their teen's personal business, like friends or probably on social media, and that could make a teen to feel like they should not trust their own parents or their trusted adult. So I would have to say having trusted adults around you. 

Josiah: Okay. And it's weird that you say that because the next question is about parents. What do you wish your parents understood about what it feels like to be a teen? 

TJ: Um, I want my parents, especially my mother, to understand that me, as a teen, I go through a lot of emotions. Um, emotions that she may have experienced when she was a teen is completely different from how it is now with me as a teen since we are now in a new generation and the way kids interact with each other and stuff is completely different from the time that she was a teen as well. 

Josiah: What do you wish your parents understood about what it feels like to be a teen?

Aster: That not everything is going to be similar to their teen experience, especially when, um, you try to explain a situation and they be like, oh yeah, this happened to me too, when in actuality it's a whole deeper thing. 

Edwin: Parents came up a lot in these conversations. Some teens and parents are lucky to have conversations about mental health, while others have a disconnection from their parents about that topic.

Karina: I really wish that, um, we're able to receive more emotional availability from our parents. Me personally, my parents are amazing when it comes to, you know, like giving advice and things like that. But I do understand like a lot of, um, parents, they don't really take their kids or their teens seriously enough to really take in what they're saying cause they're like, Oh, you're just a kid. You don't feel that for real. But like we're, although we're like adolescents, we, we're definitely emotionally developing people, which makes our emotions slightly more important than that of people who have matured already, because we're, we're just now experiencing these things and it would really be helpful if we had some sort of like foundational guidance from the people inside of our household. 

So, you know, I really wish that there were more parents who took the way that their kids felt more seriously and then accommodated to it. 

Devon: Yeah, that's one thing I will say is I kind of feel like, not like parents may hear you, but they're not listening. Parents do do that. Parents belittle the, it can be small to them, but they belittle the things that we do as teenagers. 

Jayla: Sometimes my mom be like, you don't need no mental health day. Like, some kids do because so many kids get bullied and stuff. But even though our parents be like, girl, you just go to school for eight hours. Um, mom… 

Josiah: That's health. 

Jayla: This is my health we putting involved. Them five days out of a school week, Monday through Friday, them teachers, children and the dramacan suck up all your energy. 

Devon: Well, one thing that my mom would say is that irks her, um, and that, and that irks me as I feel like just because my age is lower than yours, that makes some of the things that I struggle with or some of the things that I endure as a person on this earth Less less meaningful. 

Karina: Right, cause it’s not about your age. It's about your experiences and how you grow from them.

Devon: Everybody has a battle of their own. Everybody is battling with their own challenges. Everybody is attempting to kind of fight battles within themselves.

Edwin: It's important, no matter the age, to have a sense of self, to understand what brings you down, what makes you happy, and how to help yourself. 

Karina: Hello, my name is Karina. Who am I here with today? 

Rayleen: Rayleen. 

Karina: Oh, that's a pretty name. Nice to meet you. Can you please describe things that make you happy? 

Rayleen: So, I like art. 

Karina: Mhm. 

Rayleen: I like playing.

Karina: Oh, so you like having fun? 

Rayleen: Yes. 

Karina: Those are some nice hobbies. Thank you so much for participating today. 

Rayleen: You're welcome. 

Karina: Who am I here with today? 

Magnus: Magnus. 

Karina: What is your mental happy place? 

Magnus: Uh, anywhere that I could play sports and just be active. 

Karina: Oh, so you like moving around and being happy that way?

Magnus: Yes, ma'am. 

Jayla: I'm Jayla Shelley and I'm here with today?

Shania: Shania Davis, a staff member at North Columbus Boys & Girls Club. 

Jayla: What is your mental happy place? 

Shania: My mental happy place is knowing that I'm safe anywhere and everywhere. 

Josiah: I'm Josiah and I'm here with?

Cortez: Cortez. 

Josiah: Can you describe your mentally happy place? 

Cortez: Um, anywhere. Like, I feel like you could be happy anywhere. No matter what I'm doing, I'm going to be happy.

Jayla: Going to get your nails did, your hair did, talking with your friends, like, talking about stuff that would make you, like, boost your energy, like, give you boosting you. Like, oh yeah, I'm going to post this and you know, it's going to get a bunch of likes. I bet you it's going to work, and I'm just, oh yes, I'm going to be so pretty, like, I'm not going to be hella depressed no more.

But, that's mainly, self care really just has something to do with like you taking care of your body and making sure the people around you feels good. Like, I know for my big heart, my self care is making sure everybody around me feels good and making sure that I'm straight. 

Devon: So many people think this is weird but for me, I like to like play some of the, um, some of the ASMR videos and stuff where they're just whispering in your ear. I like listening to those while I'm doing homework and stuff like that because that lets me know that it, well, it doesn't necessarily let me know, but it's kind of just that, that extra boost of confidence while I'm doing something. 

Josiah: Yeah, it be giving me the tingles. 

Devon: Yeah. It allows me to just relax. 

Jayla: I can't listen to certain ones, but like, when you talk about homework, I mean, like, if you can hear in the background right now, you can hear rain. I have to listen to like, calming music because of like, sometimes I overthink or overstress about, okay, what, is this answer right? Is this answer wrong? Or something like that. But the sound keeps me calm. 

Devon: And most of the time you allow the rain to kind of just smooth you out. I feel like we all kind of have small things that we pick up on as relaxing factors. So the rain, it could be the pitch. It could be the fact that the water's hitting the ground. It could be the wind noises with the rain, um, just kind of that whooshing noise.

Jayla: So now we're going to think about a calm place that you feel safe at. And while we do that, we're going to breathe nice and calmly. Okay. Okay. Now we're going to think about soft nice rain. And breathe in, out.

CREDITS

Thanks for listening. This is Mixtape to My Future, a production of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Chattahoochee Valley. From the team here, our producer is Jamil Harden. Our production partner for this series is CitizenRacecar. Our producer and editor is Hajar Eldaas. Post production by Alex Brouwer, podcast education by Em Löwinger, publication and promotion by Candice Chantalou. Thanks to the whole team at the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Chattahoochee Valley for making this podcast possible.