What kind of social comparison might be healthy or unhealthy?  What We Know: Recently, I was speaking with a group of young professionals about social comparison— the tendency to evaluate our worth based on how we measure up against others. They expressed how, in the age of social media, this has become a daily challenge.connection […]

October has us thinking about all things spooky, strange, and a little out of the ordinary. Sometimes, feeling different, like an outsider, or even experiencing imposter syndrome can make us want to hide parts of ourselves. But when we let our guard down and show up as our real selves, we create space for genuine […]

In my teaching, research, and design work at Stanford, I’ve had the joy and privilege of working in a variety of ways with my friend and mentor, Dr. BJ Fogg, New York Times bestselling author of Tiny Habits®.  In spring of 2024, teaching outside under a pair of large oaks to 24 mostly graduate students, we […]

Sleep is the back-to-school reset we all need. As young people navigate new routines, friendships, schools, and identities as they head back to school, sleep becomes more than just rest: it is one of the foundations for physical health, emotional wellbeing, and social connection. Sleep is also one of the strongest protective factors for adolescent […]

What if “just breathe” is not just something we say to move past a difficult moment, but something we practice to move into connection? What if, in the middle of stress, misunderstanding, or loneliness, we could return to ourselves just enough to return to each other? What We Know: Many of us, youth and adults […]

it’s Make A Difference May! 🌼 We are bringing another month of connection challenges with the theme of service as we celebrate #mentalhealthawarenessmonth! 🎈 Being of service helps us recognize our own value, uncover our strengths and talents, and show others in our community that they matter to us too. 💛 Each week includes two types […]

What We Can Do About The Connection Between Loneliness & Bullying Have you ever felt like bullying and feeling lonely were connected in ways that feel hard to break? You’re right: Research shows they are part of the same repeating loop. Loneliness and bullying are deeply linked in a cycle that can harm a young […]

What if the way we measure social connection is one of the obstacles preventing youth from feeling more connected? What we know about social connection and how it is measured: Social Connection is the opposite of loneliness: a felt sense of being seen, being valued, and belonging. Current assessments of youth social connection reveal that […]

What if social media wasn’t the problem—but part of the solution for youth connection and wellbeing? WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT YOUTH ENGAGEMENT WITH SOCIAL MEDIA: As a neuroscientist and WHO Fides member, I’ve been exploring this topic by facilitating global focus groups with youth. Insights from these conversations informed the Stories, Science & Strategies (SSS) […]

For our first bonus episode, we are honored to have Colleen Hilton, a licensed marriage and family therapist with nearly 20 years of experience here with us. She has a passion to impact the world through mental health and creating thriving, scalable solutions.

As a people who desire meaning, asking the question “why?” is in our DNA.  But when that question becomes “why did someone die?”, it gets pretty complex and painful. In the wake of tragic death, shock, confusion, numbness, anger, guilt, anxiety, and panic can come in waves leaving the one grieving struggling to find their […]