Not Alone With Melissa-Sue Methven
EP 82: Teen Mental Health, Social Media & Feeling Alone with Jada Lauren
What if the person best equipped to explain what today's teenagers are going through is a teenager herself? Mélissa sits down with Jada Lauren, a 17-year-old author who wrote her debut novel, Dear Tomorrow, as a diary-style story blending her own experiences with fiction, to talk about what pushed her to start writing and why she believes it took someone her own age to put real words to what teenagers are actually feeling. They discuss the double-edged nature of social media, from the comparison and mental health struggles it can fuel to the small businesses and creative communities it can support, along with the friendships that fade in high school, the pressure of overbooked schedules, and the emotions Jada poured into her characters. Mélissa also shares her own experience raising kids through loss and using emotion cards to help them name what they were feeling. If you are a teenager who has ever felt unseen, or a parent trying to understand what your teen isn't saying out loud, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share it with a teen or parent who needs to hear it, and leave a review with the one feeling you wish you'd had better words for growing up. ABOUT JADA LAUREN Jada Lauren is a 17-year-old author and the writer of Dear Tomorrow, a diary-style novel that follows a teenage girl navigating social media, friendship, and mental health. Written between the ages of 15 and 16, the book blends real moments from Jada's own life with fiction inspired by the experiences of the people around her. Jada comes from a family of writers, including her mother, grandmother, and aunt, and discovered her own love of writing after realizing she preferred writing on her own terms over reading for school assignments. She is currently working on her second book and hopes to keep giving young readers the language to describe what they're feeling. Connect with Jada Lauren: Website: https://www.jadalauren.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byjadalauren ABOUT THE PODCAST "Not So Alone" podcast is a space for real talk and collective healing. Here, you'll find honest conversations with people who've walked through life's hardest moments and kept going. Every episode is a reminder that you're not alone, that hope is real, and that speaking up is the first step toward healing. Follow me on socials for bonus clips, sneak peeks, and all the fun stuff Website: https://www.melissamethven.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tremblaymel LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-sue-methven-a92b572aa/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissamethven/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/NotAlonePodcast/ Check out our site for show notes, guest links, and more https://www.podpage.com/not-alone-with-melissa-sue-methven/ Want to work together or be a guest? Hit me up! https://www.melissagratitude.life/
