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Welcome to The Mental Minute where our goal is to make mental health an everyday conversation. Take a few minutes to enjoy today’s news, tips, key resources and product reviews.

In a major legal moment this week, tech giants Meta (Instagram), TikTok, and YouTube are heading to trial after a 19-year-old plaintiff alleged that their platforms’ addictive designs fueled her depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts — marking one of the first times social media companies must defend themselves in court over youth mental health.

The lawsuit argues that features like infinite scroll, autoplay, and algorithmic engagement hook young users and contribute to compulsive use and emotional distress, a claim that could shape how tech is regulated in the future. TikTok and Snap have already settled similar cases, but Meta and YouTube are fighting the charges, and major executives could testify. These trials are part of a broader national conversation about how social media impacts mood, self-image, and well-being — especially for teens.

Read More: Meta and YouTube head to trial to defend against youth addiction, mental health harm claims (CNN)

Owning a dog might be more than just fun — it could actually boost teen mental health, according to new research showing that teens with pups tend to feel less lonely and more connected. The companionship, routine, and unconditional love dogs offer can help lower stress, support emotional regulation, and give teens something positive to focus on during tough times.

The study points out that the daily interactions and sense of responsibility that come with caring for a dog can create structure and meaningful connection that many teens are craving. While a pet isn’t a cure-all, having a dog may help teens feel grounded, seen, and less isolated in a world full of digital pressure and stress.

Read More: Having a Dog May Improve the Mental Health of Teenagers, Study Finds (People)

Stigma in mental health refers to negative attitudes, stereotypes, and discrimination directed at individuals with mental health conditions, often treating them as flawed, weak, or dangerous. This creates shame, social isolation, and severe barriers to seeking treatment, fundamentally damaging self-esteem and quality of life. 

Reducing stigma involves challenging stereotypes, promoting open conversations, and treating mental health conditions with the same urgency as physical health issues. 

More and more celebrities are openly naming the antidepressants they take — like Prozac, Lexapro, and Zoloft — and that trend is quietly reshaping how we talk about mental health. Instead of hiding medication use, public figures are normalizing it and showing millions that treatment can be a valid, everyday part of managing anxiety and depression.

Experts say this kind of candor helps reduce stigma, makes it easier for people to talk to doctors, and reminds us that mental health care isn’t something to be ashamed of. But they also warn that medication works differently for everyone, so what helps one person isn’t a prescription for another. Overall, this shift makes conversations about mental well-being more honest and less taboo — especially for fans who might see a bit of their own struggles reflected in someone they admire.

Read More: Prozac, Lexapro, Zoloft: How celebrities naming their antidepressants out loud is quietly reshaping mental health culture (Yahoo!News)

MYTH: Poor mental health is not a big issue for teenagers. They just have mood swings caused by hormonal fluctuations and act out due to a desire for attention.

FACT: Teenagers often have mood swings, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t struggle with their mental health. Fourteen percent of the world’s adolescents experience mental-health problems. Globally, among those aged 10–15, suicide is the fifth most prevalent cause of death, and for adolescents aged 15–19 it is the fourth most common cause. Half of all mental health conditions start by the age of 14.

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