Masawa Minute 110
1400 clinicians offer insight into youth mental health | Should founders microdose at work? | + More! 💫
This is the Masawa Minute — mental wellness, social impact, and impact investing snippets from what we’ve read and created in the last month + where you can get active.
Spring is springing in full force here in Berlin and so are we: having just returned from the ChangeNOW conference a couple of weeks ago, we’re gearing up to make an impression at the 0100 Conference and PYM Impact Action Day next week in the Netherlands. Exciting! In other news, this week’s newsletter is delving into the big topics in mental wellness: the state of youth mental health, increasing visibility for neurodiversity startups, access to mental health support and more. Enjoy ☺️
Masawa Update
Catch us in the Netherlands next week as we make our way to Driebergen for the PYM Impact Action Day on April 15 before heading to Amsterdam for the 0100 Conference on April 16–18!
We’re kicking off the week by connecting with impact-focused families and wealth owners at PYM Impact Days. We’ll engage in meaningful discussions around how ancient wisdom can shape our investment practice for years and decades to come and explore how our Nurture Capital approach can play a transformative role in this field.
From there, we’ll shift gears and go on to meet leading LPs and GPs, dive into exciting conversations around the European VC asset class, the rise of impact investing and the importance of “Nurturing Capital” to build lasting relationships among LPs, GPs and Founders for better financial outcomes. This is an awesome opportunity to build meaningful relationships, learn from fellow changemakers in the venture capital field and further spotlight our pioneering Nurture Capital approach — we can’t wait.
If you’re also gonna be around at one or both of these events, please drop us a message or come say hi!
This Week’s Story
A glimpse behind the curtain of the youth mental health crisis
In recent years, the topic of declining youth mental health has gained increasingly more attention, sparking widespread discussion about its underlying causes (with an emphasis on social media and smartphones). However, now we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the root causes behind the crisis as POLITICO shares their findings from a survey of 1400 clinicians across the US, including psychiatrists, social workers, counselors, and other professionals regularly working with children and teens.
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The survey points to three primary factors contributing to mental health issues among young people: the influence of social media, a lack of social connection, and external challenges like climate change and political instability. While social media can be a source of support, it often triggers anxiety, feelings of inadequacy and family instability. This further exacerbates the second factor — isolation — as despite being more connected than ever through digital means, young people are feeling lonelier than ever. Moreover, the findings reveal a concerning lack of resources to support the younger population due to a significant shortage of mental health professionals and long wait times for services, especially in rural areas.
As is the case with any major challenge, addressing this crisis won’t be straightforward. Clinicians call for a multifaceted approach that includes increasing the number of mental health professionals, improving insurance coverage, and ensuring better coordination among school-based mental health services. The path forward may not be easy, but the message is clear: it’s time for action to provide the necessary support for young individuals to navigate the complexities of today’s world and flourish.
What’s driving the youth mental health crisis? We asked 1,400 clinicians.
What else we’re reading…
😺 The Autism Impact Fund (AIF) closed its first $60 million fund, surpassing its initial target and marking a significant step forward in the support of neurodiversity. AIF is now broadening its investment scope and aiming to address a wider range of behavioral and mental health challenges — a strategic move that exemplifies AIF’s approach of challenging the status quo through the venture capital model.
🍄 Following in the footsteps of Silicon Valley, the European tech scene is embracing the trend of microdosing magic mushrooms to boost mental agility and cope with startup pressures. With reports of positive impacts on mental health and work performance such as enhanced clarity and relief from depression, this practice is gaining attention and sparking a wider discussion on its role in professional settings.
🤖 As AI’s therapeutic applications expand, an increasing number of individuals turn to chatbot therapists for their convenience and constant availability. This approach is especially appealing to those unable or unwilling to access traditional therapy. However, it raises critical questions about the effectiveness and safety of AI in comparison to human interactions and the significance of a genuine human connection for treatment.
🤳 Tech-ifying healthcare is a major focus point of innovation and for a good reason — tech has the power to address shortcomings like high costs, poor quality of care, and lack of access. However, as the established systems are highly resilient to displacement, the real transformative potential lies in a collaborative approach that leverages the strengths of both traditional healthcare providers and digital innovators to enhance patient care, improve outcomes, and ensure equitable access for all.
🧒 Despite similar rates of depression and anxiety among all teenagers, boys’ mental health struggles often go unnoticed due to symptoms like irritability and aggression being frequently dismissed as typical teenage behavior. Furthermore, data reveals that many young men stopped engaging with the healthcare system during the pandemic, and the number hasn’t picked up since, resulting in a lack of mental health awareness and treatment.
