Is Stranger Things About Mental Illness? #shorts
Channel: Foundation for Economic Education
Date: 2022-07-19

The creators of Stranger Things have done it again. The show’s fourth season has become a cultural phenomenon. It has especially struck a nerve with its younger fans.

As the characters mature through their teens, the monsters they face become more formidable and emotionally resonant. Lord Vecna is a clear metaphor for teenage depression, as has been widely discussed. But the metaphor goes deeper when it comes to one of his victims in particular. Max’s struggle raises one particular risk factor for depression that many teens have struggled with, especially in recent years, as this #short from FEE explores.

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CREDITS: 
Executive Produced by Sean W. Malone
Written by Dan Sanchez & Sean W. Malone
Narrated by Maggie Anders
Produced and edited by Paul Nelson
Produced by Pavel Rusakov 
Assist. Edited by Abby Richardson
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LINKS: 
– Stranger Things –
https://www.verywellmind.com/mind-in-the-media-how-stranger-things-4-uses-vecna-to-symbolize-mental-illness-5409203
https://www.kerrang.com/how-stranger-things-vecna-is-an-allegory-for-mental-illness
https://www.cbr.com/vecna-stranger-things-season-4-depression-allegory/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stranger_Things_(season_4)

– Rising Teen Depression —
https://www.mhanational.org/issues/2021/mental-health-america-youth-data 
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/p0331-youth-mental-health-covid-19.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/03/31/student-mental-health-decline-cdc/
https://www.npr.org/2022/04/17/1093240526/cdc-survey-covid-mental-health-teens-school
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/coronavirus/youth-suicide-attempts-soar-amid-pandemic-especially-among-girls-cdc/3102296/

– Pandemic Response Repercussions –
https://fee.org/articles/new-bbc-analysis-reveals-the-tragic-impact-covid-policies-had-on-youth-mental-health/
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/07/11/business/covid-will-be-schools-this-fall-its-time-make-plans/
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/04/04/uk-study-kids-struggle-with-writing-and-speech-after-the-pandemic.html