THAN BOYS ACROSS ALMOST ALL MEASURES. MARISSA THAT’S RIGHT. AND A LOT OF THE NEW DATA WAS FROM 2021. BUT EXPERTS SAY THAT THEY’VE NOTICED AN INCREASE IN THESE CONCERNS SINCE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC EVEN STARTED. ACCORDING TO THE CDC, NEARLY 30% OF TEEN GIRLS CONSIDERED ATTEMPTING SUICIDE. NEARLY 20% EXPERIENCED SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN THE PAST YEAR, AND ABOUT 15% HAD BEEN FORCED TO HAVE SEX. THEY SAY LGBTQ TEENS ALSO CONTINUE TO FACE EXTREMELY HIGH LEVELS OF VIOLENCE AND MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. A QUESTION FOR TRANS AND NON-BINARY YOUTH WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS NATIONAL SURVEY, BUT THE CDC SAYS IT WILL FOLLOW UP ON THAT THIS YEAR. IN THE MEANTIME, OFFICIALS ARE STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF LOOKING OUT FOR SIGNS AND CHECKING IN WITH YOUR CHILDREN REGULARLY AS CRITICAL TO TALK WITH OUR CHILDREN ABOUT WHAT THEY’RE FEELING AND THE CONCERNS. THINGS HAPPEN AT SCHOOL WITH THEIR FRIENDS AND HOW CURRENT EVENTS ARE ALWAYS IMPACTING THEM. AND TO SHARE THEIR OWN FEELINGS AND CHALLENGES ARE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. AND THE CDC SAYS SCHOOLS CAN HELP OUT WITH THIS, TOO, BY IMPLEMENTING TRAINING FOR TEACHERS OR BRINGING IN
Fictional soccer coach Ted Lasso used a White House visit Monday to encourage people, even in politically divided Washington, to make it a point to check in often with friends, family and co-workers to “ask how they’re doing, and listen, sincerely,”Comedian Jason Sudeikis, who plays the title character — an American coaching a soccer team in London — and other cast members were meeting with President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden to talk about how mental health contributes to overall well-being.Mental health and looking after one another is a theme of “Ted Lasso,” Sudeikis told reporters from the lectern as he helped press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre open her daily White House briefing. “While it’s easier said than done, we also have to know that we shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help ourselves,” Sudeikis said. “That does take a lot, especially when it’s something that has such a negative stigma to it, such as mental health and it doesn’t need to be that way.“And if you can ask for that help from a professional, fantastic,” he continued. “If it needs to be a loved one, equally as good, in a lot of ways.” Mental health is part of Biden’s bipartisan “unity agenda.” He has called on lawmakers to direct more resources toward fighting what some say is a crisis, and the administration has surged funding to bolster a new 988 suicide and crisis line and put more mental-health professionals in schools.Sudeikis said there should be no stigma attached to reaching out for help because everyone knows someone who has needed a shoulder to lean on, or has been that person themselves.“No matter who you are, no matter where you live, no matter who you voted for, we all probably, I assume, we all know someone who has, or have been that someone ourselves actually, that’s struggled, that’s felt isolated, that’s felt anxious, that has felt alone,” he said.“It’s actually one of the many things, believe it or not, that we all have in common as human beings,” Sudeikis continued. “That means it’s something that we can all, you know, and should, talk about with one another when we’re feeling that way or when we recognize that in someone feeling that way.”He issued a special appeal for people in the nation’s capital.“I know in this town a lot of folks don’t always agree, right, and don’t always feel heard, seen, listened to,” Sudeikis said. “But I truly believe we should all do our best to help take care of each other. That’s my own personal belief. I think that’s something that everyone up here on stage believes in.”The Bidens have seen some of “Ted Lasso” and are familiar with its messages of hope and kindness, according to the White House.Joining Sudeikis at the daily briefing were cast members Hannah Waddingham, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt and Toheeb Jimoh. The group was given a tour of the president’s private living quarters, a White House official said.As he left the briefing room, Sudeikis was asked if he would do the Joe Biden impression he used to do on “Saturday Night Live,” but he declined, saying that “they got the real one here now.”Sudeikis and the cast were the latest entertainers to visit the White House and associate themselves with issues the Democratic president and first lady are raising awareness about.Singer Olivia Rodrigo visited during the pandemic to help encourage young people like herself to get vaccinated against COVID-19. BTS, the popular Korean boy band, helped promote Asian inclusion and combat bias against Asian Americans.Actor Matthew McConaughey delivered a passionate appeal for tighter gun laws last year after the shooting at an elementary school in his hometown, Uvalde, Texas, that killed 19 children and two teachers.Singer/actors Mary J. Blige and Selena Gomez participated in separate events with Jill Biden focused on cancer awareness and youth mental health, respectively, and singer Sam Smith and Cyndi Lauper performed the day Biden signed gay marriage legislation into law in December.
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will host the cast of the TV series “Ted Lasso” at the White House on Monday to promote mental health and well-being.
Jason Sudeikis, who plays the title character — an American coaching a soccer team in London — and other members of the cast will meet with the Bidens “to discuss the importance of addressing your mental health to promote overall wellbeing,” the White House said. The third season of the Emmy-winning, feel-good Apple TV+ series began streaming last week.
A White House official said the Bidens had seen some of the show and are familiar with its “message of positivity, hope, kindness, and empathy.” Cast members expected to be in attendance include: Hannah Waddingham, Jeremy Swift, Phil Dunster, Brett Goldstein, Brendan Hunt, Toheeb Jimoh, Cristo Fernandez, Kola Bokinni, Billy Harris, and James Lance.
Biden has previously called on lawmakers in both parties to expand resources to fight the “mental health crisis” in the nation as part of his “ unity agenda.” His administration has surged funding to bolster the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and expand school-based mental health professionals.
