California’s first surgeon general, Burke Harris, wants to solve problems at the root level and give kids the tools they need to combat stress. We know that kids are under more and more pressure - from hearing incessant coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, to higher expectations at school and at home, rampant social media stress, and dealing with family changes (like divorce or parental separation), there can be a pressure-cooker feeling - leading to biochemical changes in the brain and body, a surge in stress hormones, disrupted memory recall, focus and impulse control and increased risk of developing mental illness. In her congressional testimony, she cites a San Fransisco pilot program where students learn meditation to reduce stress. "What research tells us is that sleep, exercise, nutrition, mindfulness and a nurturing environment can reduce stress hormones and enhance the ability of the brain to recover from stress," Harris says.
