Every school talks about teaching mental health, but is it actually helping kids? Or could some programs be doing more harm than good?

In this episode, Justin unpacks the latest research on school-based mental health lessons — what works, what doesn’t, and why good intentions aren’t always enough. If you’ve ever wondered whether your child is really benefiting from these classes, this is the conversation you need to hear.

KEY POINTS
Why mental health lessons don’t always translate into healthier kids
The risk of programs that label or pathologise normal emotions
What research really shows about long-term impact
How parents and teachers can support mental wellbeing in practical, everyday ways

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

"We can’t just teach kids about mental health in theory — we have to live it with them in practice."

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Happy Families Website
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/20/mental-health-lessons-school-dont-work-mindfulness

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
Ask your child what they really think about mental health classes at school.
Focus on daily connection — listening, empathy, and open conversations.
Model healthy coping strategies at home rather than relying only on school programs.

Every school talks about teaching mental health, but is it actually helping kids? Or could some programs be doing more harm than good?
In this episode, Justin unpacks the latest research on school-based mental health lessons &mdash; what works, what doesn&rsquo;t, and why good intentions aren&rsquo;t always enough. If you&rsquo;ve ever wondered whether your child is really benefiting from these classes, this is the conversation you need to hear.
KEY POINTS
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Why mental health lessons don&rsquo;t always translate into healthier kids</li>
<li aria-level="1">The risk of programs that label or pathologise normal emotions</li>
<li aria-level="1">What research really shows about long-term impact</li>
<li aria-level="1">How parents and teachers can support mental wellbeing in practical, everyday ways</li>
</ul>
QUOTE OF THE EPISODE
"We can&rsquo;t just teach kids about mental health in theory &mdash; we have to live it with them in practice."
RESOURCES MENTIONED
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Happy Families Website</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/20/mental-health-lessons-school-dont-work-mindfulness">https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/20/mental-health-lessons-school-dont-work-mindfulness</a></li>
</ul>
ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
<ol>
<li aria-level="1">Ask your child what they really think about mental health classes at school.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Focus on daily connection &mdash; listening, empathy, and open conversations.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Model healthy coping strategies at home rather than relying only on school programs.</li>
</ol>

The Happy Families Podcast with Dr. Justin Coulson is designed for the time poor parent who just wants answers now. Every day Justin and his wife Kylie provide practical tips and a common sense approach to parenting that Mums and Dads all over the world are connecting with. Justin and Kylie have 6 daughters and they regularly share their experiences of managing a busy household filled with lots of challenges and plenty of happiness. For real and practicable advice from people who understand and appreciate the challenges of a time poor parent, listen to Justin and Kylie and help make your family happier.

The Happy Families Podcast with Dr. Justin Coulson is designed for the time poor parent who just wants answers now. Every day Justin and his wife Kylie provide practical tips and a common sense approach to parenting that Mums and Dads all over the world are connecting with. Justin and Kylie have 6 daughters and they regularly share their experiences of managing a busy household filled with lots of challenges and plenty of happiness. For real and practicable advice from people who understand and appreciate the challenges of a time poor parent, listen to Justin and Kylie and help make your family happier.

The Happy families podcast with Dr. Justin Coulson is designed for the time poor parent who just wants answers now.

Dr Justin Coulson's Happy Families

Do Mental Health Lessons in Schools Help Our Kids or Make Things Worse?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/bba78c39-0230-4f6e-a0a7-b33c00cd6408/transcript

Your child finishes assignments faster than ever… but are they actually learning anything?

In this Doctor’s Desk episode, Justin and Kylie Coulson unpack two alarming new studies on how AI is changing the way kids think, learn, remember, and make decisions. From “cognitive offloading” to “cognitive surrender,” they explore why students using AI remembered less, trusted wrong answers more, and became increasingly dependent on technology to do the thinking for them.

If AI is becoming our children’s autopilot instead of their co-pilot, what happens to critical thinking, confidence, and real learning?

This conversation will challenge the way you think about ChatGPT, schoolwork, and the future of parenting in an AI-driven world.

KEY POINTS
Why students using AI remembered significantly less information
The hidden learning deficit created by cognitive offloading
How AI can weaken confidence in our own thinking
The shocking number of people who follow AI advice even when it’s wrong
Why “doing it the hard way” still matters for growth
The difference between getting outcomes and building capability
What parents need to teach kids before AI becomes their default brain

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“If you’re going for the growth, do it the hard way.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED
University of Pennsylvania research on “cognitive surrender”
Brazilian study on AI use and memory retention

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
Encourage kids to use AI as a helper, not a replacement thinker
Ask children to explain ideas in their own words after using AI
Prioritise learning and understanding over speed and convenience
Talk openly about AI mistakes, hallucinations, and misinformation
Create opportunities for kids to solve problems without technology assistance

Your child finishes assignments faster than ever&hellip; but are they actually learning anything?
In this Doctor&rsquo;s Desk episode, Justin and Kylie Coulson unpack two alarming new studies on how AI is changing the way kids think, learn, remember, and make decisions. From &ldquo;cognitive offloading&rdquo; to &ldquo;cognitive surrender,&rdquo; they explore why students using AI remembered less, trusted wrong answers more, and became increasingly dependent on technology to do the thinking for them.
If AI is becoming our children&rsquo;s autopilot instead of their co-pilot, what happens to critical thinking, confidence, and real learning?
This conversation will challenge the way you think about ChatGPT, schoolwork, and the future of parenting in an AI-driven world.
KEY POINTS
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Why students using AI remembered significantly less information</li>
<li aria-level="1">The hidden learning deficit created by cognitive offloading</li>
<li aria-level="1">How AI can weaken confidence in our own thinking</li>
<li aria-level="1">The shocking number of people who follow AI advice even when it&rsquo;s wrong</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why &ldquo;doing it the hard way&rdquo; still matters for growth</li>
<li aria-level="1">The difference between getting outcomes and building capability</li>
<li aria-level="1">What parents need to teach kids before AI becomes their default brain</li>
</ul>
QUOTE OF THE EPISODE
&ldquo;If you&rsquo;re going for the growth, do it the hard way.&rdquo;
RESOURCES MENTIONED
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">University of Pennsylvania&nbsp;<a href="https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/study-do-what-chatgpt-tells-us">research on &ldquo;cognitive surrender&rdquo;</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.psypost.org/chatgpt-acts-as-a-cognitive-crutch-that-weakens-memory-new-research-suggests/">Brazilian study on AI use and memory retention</a></li>
</ul>
ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Encourage kids to use AI as a helper, not a replacement thinker</li>
<li aria-level="1">Ask children to explain ideas in their own words after using AI</li>
<li aria-level="1">Prioritise learning and understanding over speed and convenience</li>
<li aria-level="1">Talk openly about AI mistakes, hallucinations, and misinformation</li>
<li aria-level="1">Create opportunities for kids to solve problems without technology assistance</li>
</ul>

AI Reduces Memory

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/c2ddaaed-3df5-44ee-92cc-b43d008bb398/transcript

AI isn’t just helping your kids with homework - it’s shaping who they trust, how they think, and what they feel.

In this eye-opening conversation, Dr Justin Coulson sits down with Chris McKenna from Protect Young Eyes to unpack what most parents are missing about screens, social media, and the explosive rise of AI.

This isn’t about screen time. It’s about attachment, influence, and a digital world that’s moving faster than families can keep up.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, outpaced, or unsure what actually matters anymore - this episode will change how you parent in a tech-saturated world.

KEY POINTS
Why focusing on “screen time” is distracting parents from bigger risks
The hidden shift from attention to emotional attachment in AI
How chatbots are designed to pull kids back in - and keep them there
Why government restrictions aren’t enough to keep kids safe
The real reason screen battles keep happening at home
The two strategies every parent must balance: relational vs technical
How building “digital trust” reduces conflict and increases influence
Why modelling your own tech habits matters more than rules

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“Social media came for their attention. AI is coming for their affection.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Protect Young Eyes
Five Habits of a Tech-Ready Family by Chris McKenna
Jonathan Haidt’s After Babel blog

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
Shift your focus from screen time to what your child is experiencing and who they’re connecting with
Start proactive conversations about AI - don’t wait until there’s a problem
Build digital trust through regular, calm, curiosity-led chats
Reduce unnecessary devices and access points in your home
Clearly define boundaries - and the path to earning more freedom
Model healthy tech use consistently (they’re watching more than listening)
Balance technical controls (filters, limits) with relational connection

AI isn&rsquo;t just helping your kids with homework - it&rsquo;s shaping who they trust, how they think, and what they feel.
In this eye-opening conversation, Dr Justin Coulson sits down with Chris McKenna from Protect Young Eyes to unpack what most parents are missing about screens, social media, and the explosive rise of AI.
This isn&rsquo;t about screen time. It&rsquo;s about attachment, influence, and a digital world that&rsquo;s moving faster than families can keep up.
If you&rsquo;ve ever felt overwhelmed, outpaced, or unsure what actually matters anymore - this episode will change how you parent in a tech-saturated world.
KEY POINTS
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Why focusing on &ldquo;screen time&rdquo; is distracting parents from bigger risks</li>
<li aria-level="1">The hidden shift from attention to emotional attachment in AI</li>
<li aria-level="1">How chatbots are designed to pull kids back in - and keep them there</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why government restrictions aren&rsquo;t enough to keep kids safe</li>
<li aria-level="1">The real reason screen battles keep happening at home</li>
<li aria-level="1">The two strategies every parent must balance: relational vs technical</li>
<li aria-level="1">How building &ldquo;digital trust&rdquo; reduces conflict and increases influence</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why modelling your own tech habits matters more than rules</li>
</ul>
QUOTE OF THE EPISODE
&ldquo;Social media came for their attention. AI is coming for their affection.&rdquo;
RESOURCES MENTIONED
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.protectyoungeyes.com/">Protect Young Eyes</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.techreadyfamily.com/">Five Habits of a Tech-Ready Family</a> by Chris McKenna</li>
<li aria-level="1">Jonathan Haidt&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.afterbabel.com/">After Babel</a> blog</li>
</ul>
ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Shift your focus from screen time to what your child is experiencing and who they&rsquo;re connecting with</li>
<li aria-level="1">Start proactive conversations about AI - don&rsquo;t wait until there&rsquo;s a problem</li>
<li aria-level="1">Build digital trust through regular, calm, curiosity-led chats</li>
<li aria-level="1">Reduce unnecessary devices and access points in your home</li>
<li aria-level="1">Clearly define boundaries - and the path to earning more freedom</li>
<li aria-level="1">Model healthy tech use consistently (they&rsquo;re watching more than listening)</li>
<li aria-level="1">Balance&nbsp;technical controls (filters, limits) with relational connection</li>
</ul>

The Tech-Ready Family (with  Chris McKenna)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/ca15bf2c-b5e8-4195-86b5-b43d008b897c/transcript

You’re worried. They don’t care. And somehow, headphones have become the hill your relationship might die on.

When one mum fears Bluetooth is harming her teen’s brain—and he flatly refuses to listen—this episode unpacks what’s really going on beneath the conflict.

Because this isn’t just about radiation. It’s about teenage psychology, risk, independence… and knowing which battles are worth fighting.

KEY POINTS
Why “I don’t care, I’ll be fine” is peak teenage brain development
The surprising truth about Bluetooth and radiation risk
What actually is harming teens’ hearing (and why it matters more)
Why logic and research rarely change teen behaviour
How pushing too hard can quietly damage your relationship
The mindset shift that instantly reduces conflict with teens
A simple compromise that teens are far more likely to accept

QUOTE OF THE EPISODE

“‘I don’t care, I’ll be fine’ is the most accurate summary of a teenage boy’s brain.”

RESOURCES MENTIONED
World Health Organization (2023 review on wireless device exposure)
BMJ Global Health study on youth hearing loss risk

ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
Let go of battles that don’t have strong evidence behind them
Focus on connection before correction
Shift the conversation from “danger” to “practical impact”
Set boundaries where it matters most—and hold those consistently
Talk about volume, not just device use
Offer compromises your teen can realistically agree to
Protect the relationship, even when you disagree

You&rsquo;re worried. They don&rsquo;t care. And somehow, headphones have become the hill your relationship might die on.
When one mum fears Bluetooth is harming her teen&rsquo;s brain&mdash;and he flatly refuses to listen&mdash;this episode unpacks what&rsquo;s really going on beneath the conflict.
Because this isn&rsquo;t just about radiation. It&rsquo;s about teenage psychology, risk, independence&hellip; and knowing which battles are worth fighting.
KEY POINTS
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Why &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t care, I&rsquo;ll be fine&rdquo; is peak teenage brain development</li>
<li aria-level="1">The surprising truth about Bluetooth and radiation risk</li>
<li aria-level="1">What actually is harming teens&rsquo; hearing (and why it matters more)</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why logic and research rarely change teen behaviour</li>
<li aria-level="1">How pushing too hard can quietly damage your relationship</li>
<li aria-level="1">The mindset shift that instantly reduces conflict with teens</li>
<li aria-level="1">A simple compromise that teens are far more likely to accept</li>
</ul>
QUOTE OF THE EPISODE
&ldquo;&lsquo;I don&rsquo;t care, I&rsquo;ll be fine&rsquo; is the most accurate summary of a teenage boy&rsquo;s brain.&rdquo;
RESOURCES MENTIONED
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">World Health Organization (2023 review on wireless device exposure)</li>
<li aria-level="1">BMJ Global Health study on youth hearing loss risk</li>
</ul>
ACTION STEPS FOR PARENTS
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Let go of battles that don&rsquo;t have strong evidence behind them</li>
<li aria-level="1">Focus on connection before correction</li>
<li aria-level="1">Shift the conversation from &ldquo;danger&rdquo; to &ldquo;practical impact&rdquo;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Set boundaries where it matters most&mdash;and hold those consistently</li>
<li aria-level="1">Talk about volume, not just device use</li>
<li aria-level="1">Offer compromises your teen can realistically agree to</li>
<li aria-level="1">Protect the relationship, even when you disagree</li>
</ul>

The Hidden Cost of Fighting the Wrong Battles (a Q&A)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/d1fa362a-cb96-406c-bf40-b43d008b67b1/transcript

Do Mental Health Lessons in Schools Help Our Kids or Make Things Worse?

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