Hope for Youth Mental Health: Beyond Antidepressants and ADHD Meds

Are we turning to ADHD and depression medications too quickly for kids?

The Wall Street Journal and New York Times recently published powerful investigations into the overuse of psychiatric medications in children. In this video, Dr. Bret Scher unpacks the key takeaways, the risks of polypharmacy, and why a comprehensive, root-cause approach is more important than ever for kids facing mental health challenges.

🔍 In this episode, Dr. Scher covers:

• The risks of overmedicating: side effects, polypharmacy, and long-term consequences
• Why behavioral therapy is being overlooked, even though it's supposed to be first-line
• How nutrition and metabolic health impact focus, mood, and behavior in kids
• Why low-carb and ketogenic therapies may offer new hope
• The growing research into metabolic therapies for pediatric mental health

As the youth mental health crisis continues to worsen, it's time we examine our current treatment options and consider what's missing and how we can prioritize nutrition, behavioral therapy, and safer first-line care.

👉 To learn more about ketogenic therapy for youth mental health, check out our Youth Mental Health Hub: https://www.metabolicmind.org/resources/topics/youth-mental-health/

🔎 Have questions about how to apply metabolic therapies effectively? Submit them at metabolicmind.org/questions to be featured in a future Metabolic Mailbag episode.

#MetabolicMind #KetogenicTherapy #YouthMentalHealth #ADHD

Expert Featured:

Dr. Bret Scher

• Baszucki Group Medical Director
• https://x.com/bschermd

Resources Mentioned:

Millions of Kids Are on ADHD Pills. For Many, It’s the Start of a Drug Cascade.

• https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/kids-adhd-drugs-medication-06dfa0b7?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqcVhhl0bubzA_1q6yvfc7z3u0t44jw3AzUR9AZSyNO6avhB6NAoOJw72qVmojw%3D&gaa_ts=692b4191&gaa_sig=J0FYmn3CRlIzfq4EpHUykmVvbcGCu-cxuLnKihjrGx1rkjdeoIP693bQ3368UEKDGO2StTwq0maWdWb1L_TTdA%3D%3D

What to Know About Teen Sexual Development and S.S.R.I.s

• https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/magazine/what-to-know-teen-sexual-development-ssris.html

Oxford’s Keto for ADHD & Depression Randomized Controlled Trial – with Ally Houston

• https://www.metabolicmind.org/resources/news-views/podcasts/metabolic-mind-podcast/oxfords-keto-for-adhd-depression-randomized-controlled-trial-with-ally-houston/

What Happens When Kids Try Keto for Bipolar? featuring Elizabeth Errico

• https://www.metabolicmind.org/resources/news-views/podcasts/metabolic-mind-podcast/what-happens-when-kids-try-keto-for-bipolar-featuring-elizabeth-errico/

Free CME Clinician Trainings:

Are you a clinician who would like to learn more about the science behind these therapies and how to implement them in practice? Earn CME with our growing library of courses from some of the top experts in the field including Dr. Chris Palmer, Dr. Georgia Ede, Dr. Matthew Bernstein and Dr. Bret Scher with more coming soon.

Our courses have been made FREE by grants from Baszucki Group, so we can spread these powerful therapies as widely as possible. Earn CME/CNE credits: https://www.metabolicmind.org/for-clinicians/trainings-courses/?utm_medium=organic-social&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=cme-yt

Follow our channel for more information and education from Bret Scher, MD, FACC, including interviews with leading experts in Metabolic Psychiatry.

Learn more about metabolic psychiatry and find helpful resources at https://metabolicmind.org/

About us:

Metabolic Mind is a non-profit initiative of Baszucki Group working to transform the study and treatment of mental disorders by exploring the connection between metabolism and brain health. We leverage the science of metabolic psychiatry and personal stories to offer education, community, and hope to people struggling with mental health challenges and those who care for them.

Our channel is for informational purposes only. We are not providing individual or group medical or healthcare advice nor establishing a provider-patient relationship. Many of the interventions we discuss can have dramatic or potentially dangerous effects if done without proper supervision. Consult your healthcare provider before changing your lifestyle or medications.