Step into the premiere of MHTN, your guide to breaking barriers and building resilient minds. From confronting perfectionism to redefining beauty standards, join our hosts Patricia Wu, Jessica Reyes, and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dan Bober, on a transformative exploration of mental wellness. Let’s embark on this empowering quest together.
Breaking Past Barriers
We explore freeing ourselves from perfectionism and fitness setbacks, encouraging viewers to take small, manageable steps towards liberation. Dr. Dan Bober underscores the importance of progress over perfection, offering practical advice for overcoming paralyzing self-doubt.
Social Media and Self-Esteem
Celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Anya Taylor Joy perpetuate unrealistic beauty standards, which negatively affect self-esteem. Dr. Dan Bober emphasizes the importance of parents guiding their children towards positive role models outside of social media, promoting a balanced view of self-image.
Workforce Mental Health Crisis
There is an alarming rise in depression and anxiety among young adults entering the workforce. The root causes and implications of this crisis is discussed more in detail. Dr. Dan Bober emphasizes holistic approaches to mental wellness, stressing the importance of supportive environments and positive reinforcement in the workplace.
Art for Healing
Art therapy programs like Le Hameau in French museums, offer healing and community for people with autism and mental health challenges. Participants find comfort and connection through creative expression, showcasing how art can transform mental health care.
Join us in exploring these important topics further by watching the full video!
Video Transcript
00:00 Introduction to Mental Health Television Network
(Host-Patricia Wu) “Don’t let yesterday take up too much of today.” It’s a powerful reminder from the entertainer Will Rogers and a great way for us to start the week.
I’m Patricia Wu along with Jessica Reyes and MHTN Chief Medical Officer and Psychiatrist Dr. Dan Bober. Welcome to the premiere of M. H. T. N. ,Mental Health Television Network.
How long have we been waiting to say that?!
(Host-Jessica Reyes) For like, ever. We’re so excited.
(Guest-Dr. Dan Bober) Feels like years, doesn’t it?
(Host-Jessica Reyes) It does feel like years. And like, we’re gonna do this today, and we’re gonna do this every day.
00:34 Mindful Motivator Challenge: Breaking Free from the Past
(Host-Jessica Reyes) Let’s start with your Mindful Motivator Challenge.
Ask yourself, is there something from your past that’s holding you back? Can you take one small step to break free from it?
I mean, that’s a good question.
(Host-Patricia Wu) Yeah. Where do I start?
(Host-Jessica Reyes) Right? Like where do we start actually?
(Host-Patricia Wu) I’ll say perfectionism.
(Guest-Dr. Dan Bober) Absolutely.
(Host-Patricia Wu) That paralyzes.
(Guest-Dr. Dan Bober) Absolutely. Sometimes it feels so overwhelming and the perfect is the enemy of the good. Sometimes, you just have to give it your best shot. Absolutely.
(Host-Jessica Reyes) Yeah me too. I think working out. Like that’s always been something in my life where I jump into the routine, especially at the beginning of the year, you know, with the new year’s resolution.
And then the gym is packed and then I give up on it. But I’m thinking, no. I’m not going to allow that a couple of weeks that I haven’t worked out to hold me back. I’m going to give it a shot, even if it’s once a week.
(Guest-Dr. Dan Bober) That’s why it’s important to have incremental steps and not try to overdo it because then you get discouraged and then instead of going to the gym, you just get back into the parking lot and leave.
(Host-Patricia Wu) It’s like all or nothing. You know me.
(Host-Jessica Reyes) You know me. Are you recording me or something? You must know me.
(Host-Patricia Wu) The Frosty. The Frosty. He saw me.
(Guest-Dr. Dan Bober) That’s right. That’s right.
01:29 Psychology Behind the Headlines: Celebrity Influence on Body Image
(Host-Patricia Wu) Time now for the Psychology Behind the Headlines.
Two A listers, Kim Kardashian and Anya Taylor Joy, are facing backlash recently after some social media posts.
Both were photographed wearing corsets, sparking a heated conversation about body image and the message celebrities send to their followers. While neither celebrity has directly addressed the criticism, accusations of promoting unrealistic beauty standards and glorifying unhealthy body types have dominated online discussions.
Critics argue that these images perpetuate the notion that an impossible skinny ideal is the standard for beauty. Potentially impacting the self esteem of fans, especially young women.
All right, let’s get some expert advice from Dan and also I’m sure Jessica and I have a lot to say about this as well.
02:11 The Impact of Social Media on Self Esteem
(Guest-Dr. Dan Bober) This is kind of an old story with social media, low self esteem, among women… poor body image, depression, anxiety, increase in eating disorders. So this is something that we see and this is why low self esteem is so rampant among women in society because of things like this.
(Host-Jessica Reyes) Do you find it though, like in my case, like when I was growing up, I would look up to my mom and she kind of made sure that she should be my hero.
(Guest-Dr. Dan Bober) Your ideal.
(Host-Jessica Reyes) Yeah, my ideal. Do you think? It’s us as parents, we need to start teaching our kids who their ideals should be, not Kim Kardashian.
(Guest-Dr. Dan Bober) I think we need to be focusing on health and not looks. 60 percent of parents don’t use parental controls on social media, so they’re not doing their part to filter this content. We can’t just depend on the social media companies because we know what they’re going to do
(Host-Jessica Reyes) right, right, right
(Host-Patricia Wu) health and what’s on the inside instead of looks
(Guest-Dr. Dan Bober) Absolutely
(Host-Jessica Reyes) Totally, my goodness.
Well, I would I’m definitely on that, you know, because I have a seven year old. So I always think about what are his ideals? Who does he look up to? You know, obviously we have men in our family who he looked up to, but he is on social media already. He looks through things and I feel like as much as we love social media, it could be a damaging to their self esteem.
(Guest-Dr. Dan Bober) It’s not realistic to completely eliminate it because it’s all around us. But if you can actually reduce it and make a goal of 30 minutes a day, that makes a huge difference. Because once you do it for over 3 hours a day, that increases the risk of mental illness significantly.
(Host-Jessica Reyes) That’s scary.
(Host-Patricia Wu) I mean, if you’re staring at your phone for 3 hours.
(Guest-Dr. Dan Bober) It’s easy. It’s easy.
(Host-Jessica Reyes) You don’t realize it. Like, you can go on for like 10 minutes and next thing you know, it’s 3 hours.
(Guest-Dr. Dan Bober) Right.
(Host-Jessica Reyes) It’s scary
(Guest-Dr. Dan Bober) That’s how mesmerizing it is.
(Host-Patricia Wu) And you’re not outside enjoying the fresh air, right?
03:50 Mental Health Crisis Among Young People in the Workforce
(Host-Jessica Reyes) Absolutely. Okay, well, moving on.
Entering the workforce after college has always been an adjustment, but a new study by, Think Tank Resolution Foundation, reveals a troubling trend.
Young people in the UK are facing a growing mental health crisis that’s impacting their careers and the economy. The research shows a significant rise in young people experiencing depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions. This, coupled with the communication gap between them and older managers, is leading to increased absenteeism, lower productivity, and even career stagnation.
Dan, how can Gen Z be helped? Because they are our future. That’s going to be our boss one day. I mean…
(Guest-Dr. Dan Bober) I’ve never said this before, but social media, right? I mean, I think social media might be part of the problem. Again. You know, focusing on positive messaging and not just focusing on looks, this impossible ideal that they’re striving towards that they can’t reach.
I think that’s, that’s the key, is trying to be more realistic and be more accepting.
(Host-Patricia Wu) Oh my God. Again, I’m going to say, let’s not focus so much on the outside, right? And what’s on the inside.
04:53 Art Therapy for Autism and Mental Health Challenges in French Museums
(Host-Patricia Wu) All right, well, beyond the grand halls and iconic works of art, a quiet revolution is unfolding in French museums.
Tucked away in a Parisian art museum, a unique studio called Le Hameau, is fostering a sense of community and well being for individuals with autism and other mental health challenges. Dubbed Bien Mieux or Feeling Much Better, it goes beyond traditional art therapy. By engaging with art through workshops and interactive experiences, participants find a sense of belonging, expression, and even a reprieve from social isolation.
This seems like a really cool idea. What do you guys think?
(Guest-Dr. Dan Bober) I think it’s important when you’re dealing with autistic kids to really think out of the box because they see the world through a completely different lens and we can’t really relate to it. So I think this out of the box thinking is really the way to go for sure.
And I hear this from a lot of parents of patients that I treat.
(Host-Jessica Reyes) And I feel like we’re seeing a lot, not only in Europe, but we’re seeing a lot of that in the U. S. too. Where even like a place like, SeaWorld is offering areas where, you know, children with autism can go to for a little bit. They can have their own little space, their quiet space.
And it’s, I think that’s just so important, that there’s more awareness.
(Guest-Dr. Dan Bober) Yeah, anytime we can focus less on medication and more about skills. I think skills over pills, that’s the way to go.
(Host-Jessica Reyes) I agree.
(Host-Patricia Wu) Absolutely. But I think it helps everyone. I feel like whenever I go to the museum, it kind of just expands your perspective on things, too.
(Guest-Dr. Dan Bober) Absolutely. It’s like using a part of your brain that you don’t normally use, and that takes developing, too, as well.
6:21 Life Quakes: Coming up next
(Host-Jessica Reyes) Coming up in LifeQuakes, her ex husband is a dating machine, but does he need to do it in front of the kids? And her mom is throwing a guilt trip for not attending a funeral. Should she cave and go?
MHTN, we’ll be right back.
