Can we cure the "Anxious Generation"?

Today is International Mentorship Day, but I believe there is a theme that is even more important: the erosion of community. This issue is having devastating economic and health effects, sparked a warning from the Surgeon General, and, most importantly, it’s unravelling the social fabric and trust that holds us together.

The isolation epidemic is not just a personal crisis; it’s a collective one that threatens our ability to innovate, create, and thrive together.

Here’s the moment when I realized our attention and agency were no longer wholly in our own control.

“<sub>It's 2009, and I'm sitting in the boarding area at the BOI airport waiting for a flight to New York City. It was an early morning work trip, one I knew well. I grabbed my magazine, ready to thumb through it on the flight, and loaded up some songs on my iPod. My boss sat across from me, transfixed by his shiny new iPhone, the kind that had just hit the market. I assumed he was busy solving a crisis—negotiating or hiring someone new. But as I glanced over, I caught a glimpse of the screen. Was that… Angry Birds?

Our attention spans haven't been the same since then. Glued to screens at every moment of in-between….”</sub>

Read more in my piece, Can we cure the Anxious Generation?


Let me know what you think. Here’s a healthier and more productive 2025,

Ashley Werhun
CEO Mentorly