Despite the rise in mental health discussions among youth, many teenagers still struggle to move their openness in conversation into action, failing to seek professional mental health support.
Early into quarantine, a popular food trend arose in which patients suffering from COVID-19 ate burnt orange to regain their taste. In 2023, people went “fanatic” over Grimace Shakes sold at McDonald's,...
![Many teenagers are reluctant to receive professional support for mental health. There are various factors that play into teens not getting the help that they need. “[Teenagers] might feel that even though they're talking to someone, they still don't feel heard,” freshman Jaeda Gonzales said. “I've noticed that a lot of times when I try to talk to someone about my problems, it doesn't really click [with] them. [It’s] like they're making up their own story about my story in their head and they're just getting it all twisted.”](https://southwestshadow.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/mental-help-graphic.jpg)
![Many food trends gain attention because of viral influencers or appealing visual aspects. This has continually drawn approval and admiration from consumers before they had even tried the product. “Food trends [are popular] because it’s such a big build-up, especially from influencers,” junior Myles Jenkins said. “They think something’s cool, then they post it everywhere on social media, and then other people just want to do it so they can experience it and post about it. People want to just feel seen by doing the same thing, especially with food, a common way that people could connect.”](https://southwestshadow.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/2-1200x800.png)
