Over the past three decades, the biggest public health threats to teenagers in the U.S. came from binge drinking, drunken driving, teenage pregnancy, and smoking. Today, they have been replaced by soaring rates of mental health disorders—especially anxiety. Anxious Nation takes a deep look into the crisis of anxiety and mental health in America, especially its impact on kids (ages 10-26) and families. The film zeros in on the nurture/nature debate, what’s happening in homes and society that’s adding to the problem, the crisis on college campuses, and the impact in lower socioeconomic communities, especially brown and black communities. Resolving anxiety is not a one-size-fits-all answer, but co-directors Roth and Morton leave you with an understanding that you’re not alone in the struggle. Offering deep insights on how we got here and what we can do to harness anxious energy for good, Anxious Nation offers hope. While there’s no cure for anxiety, we can learn to manage it so it doesn’t define us. Directors Vanessa Roth & Laura Morton (US 2022) 100 min