SUE: I'’M SUE O'’CONNELL.

TONIGHT ON "GREATER BOSTON," ANOTHER MASS SHOOTING WITH ANOTHER AR-15 STYLE RIFLE.

WE WILL HEAR FROM A FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST ABOUT THE WASHINGTON POST INVESTIGATION INTO THE RISE OF THE WEAPON.

THEN A NEW DOCUMENTARY DIGGING INTO THE RISE OF ANXIETY IN CHILDREN CALLED "ANXIOUS NATION."

WE WILL HEAR FROM ONE OF THE FILMMAKERS AND HER DAUGHTER, WHO INSPIRED THE FILM.

♪ YET ANOTHER COMMUNITY IS MORNING AFTER ANOTHER MASS SHOOTING IN AMERICA.

THIS TIME A GUNMAN ARMED WITH AN AR-15 STYLE RIFLE OPEN FIRE OUTSIDE AN OUTLET MALL IN DALLAS, TEXAS.

KILLING AT LEAST EIGHT PEOPLE BEFORE HE WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY POLICE SUNDAY.

IT WAS A 199TH -- THE 199TH MASS SHOOTING SO FAR THIS YEAR ACCORDING TO THE GUN VIOLENCE ARCHIVE AND THE SECOND IN TEXAS IN AS MANY WEEKS.

A MAN SHOT AND KILLED FIVE OF HIS NEIGHBORS INSIDE THEIR HOME NORTH OF HOUSTON, INCLUDING AN EIGHT-YEAR-OLD BOY, AFTER THE FAMILY HAD ASKED THEM TO STOP FIRING OFF ROUNDS IN HIS BACKYARD.

THIS KILLER ALSO USED AN AR-15 STYLE GUN WHICH HAD BEEN USED INTENT OF THE COUNTRY'’S 17 DEADLIEST MASS SHOOTINGS TO DATE.

THE GUN AND ITS RISE IN POPULARITY HERE IN THE U.S. IS THE FOCUS OF A MONTH-LONG INVESTIGATION FROM THE WASHINGTON POST.

I'’M JOINED NOW BY ONE OF THE REPORTERS BEHIND IT.

A NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER FOR THE POST.

WASHINGTON POST NATIONAL SECURITY REPORTER ALEX HORTON.

AND DR. ROBERT MENDOZA.

A NEUROPSYCHOLOGIST AND THE OWNER OF BOSTON FORENSIC ASSOCIATES.

CAN YOU TELL US WHAT AR-15 STANDS FOR?

I'’M ALWAYS AMAZED AT HOW THIS ARGUMENT REALLY DEVOLVES INTO WHAT THE NAME OF THE WEAPON IS THAT IS KILLING SO MANY PEOPLE.

WHAT IS -- WHAT DOES AR-15 STAND FOR?

>> YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT IT REALLY GETS INTO THE SEMANTIC ARGUMENTS REALLY QUICKLY.

AR-15 STANDS FOR ARMOR RIFLE 15, A NOD TO THE ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER WHICH WAS ARMOR LITE.

>> I WAS A MEMBER OF THE RIFLE TEAM WHEN I WAS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND BY -- AND HIGH SCHOOL BACK IN THE 1970'’S.

I WAS RANKED AS A SHARPSHOOTER.

I OWNED A WEAPON.

I OWNED A RIFLE.

AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT MY EXPERIENCE ON THAT TEAM AS A MEMBER OF THE JUNIOR NRA MEMBER IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT SOMEONE WHO IS JOINING NOW MIGHT BE.

CAN YOU TELL ME, ALEX, HOW THE WEAPONS, IF I WAS GOING TO BUY MY BOLT ACTION, I WOULD PROBABLY NOT WANT TO BUY AT THIS TIME, BUT SOMETHING ELSE, BECAUSE OF THE MARKETING, RIGHT?

>> THEY ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN NOT JUST UPPING THE WEAPON ITSELF IN THE AR-15 BUT ALSO THE IMAGE AROUND IT, THE COOL GUY, COMMANDO, WAITING, THE MISTAKE IN THE IMAGE, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, WHEN YOU LOOK NOW, THE SHELVES ARE SATURATED WITH AR-15 '’S, FROM A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS, DIFFERENT STYLES, DIFFERENT PRICE POINTS.

IT IS AN ATTRACTIVE FEATURE FOR THEM.

THEY ARE NOT JUST RELATIVELY EASY TO SHOOT AND EASY TO UNDERSTAND.

BUT YOU CAN GET AN ENTRY-LEVEL MODEL FOR JUST A FEW HUNDRED BUCKS.

THOSE ARE A FEW SELLING POINTS.

SUE: LET'’S TAKE A LOOK AT A QUOTE FROM YOUR WASHINGTON POST REPORTING.

THE AR-15 IS MORE THAN A WEAPON BUT A POTENT SYMBOL WITH A GRIP ON THE AMERICAN IMAGINATION, READILY AVAILABLE AND EASY TO USE KILLING MACHINE WIELDED DURING SOME OF THE COUNTRY'’S DARKEST MOMENTS AND A TACTICAL WEAPON CHAMPIONED AS THE ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

DR. MENDOZA, WE'’VE HAD A LOVE AFFAIR WITH WEAPONS AND GUNS IN THIS COUNTRY.

PROBABLY SINCE OUR FOUNDING I THINK IT MIGHT BE SAFE TO SAY.

WHAT IS DIFFERENT NOW?

WHAT IS DIFFERENT IN OUR CULTURE NOW THAT IS -- HAVING ALL THESE MASS SHOOTINGS, WHEN GUNS, PEOPLE HAVE HAD HUNTING WEAPONS FOR CENTURIES, WHAT IS DIFFERENT NOW?

>> WELL, IT IS A CULTURE THAT IS EVOLVING NOW WITH MADISON AVENUE MARKETING IT SOUNDS LIKE.

OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE MENTAL ILLNESS, VIDEO GAMES COME ALL THE THINGS THAT WE TIED TO VIOLENCE AND GUNS AND SO ON.

THE UNITED IT'’S IS OFF THE CHARTS -- IS OFF THE CHARTS IN THAT AREA.

WHAT REALLY IS DISTURBING, THERE ARE THREE TRENDS RELATED TO THIS AND ACTUALLY PLAYED OUT IN TEXAS RECENTLY, SINCE 2016, PEOPLE'’S AFFILIATIONS WITH HATE GROUPS INVOLVED IN MASS SHOOTINGS HAS INCREASED THREE TIMES, THREEFOLD.

THERE'’S ALSO THE CONCERN THAT IT IS NOW MORE PUBLIC -- NOW A MORE PUBLIC OPERATION.

THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT WERE DYING OUT THERE IN TEXAS WHEN THE SHOOTER GOT OUT OF THE CAR, IN THE PARKING LOT, IN A PUBLIC PLACE, THAT IS SLIGHTLY UNUSUAL STATISTICALLY NOW, AND IT IS GROWING, RETAIL SHOPS, RESTAURANTS.

THEN THE ONE REFERENCING OUR CONVERSATION IS THE INCREASE IN PEOPLE WANTING NOTORIETY.

PEOPLE FEELING LIKE THEY ARE PART OF THE IN CROWD, OF THE IN GROUP.

THAT IS ON THE RISE.

WHEN PEOPLE START TO MARKET A WEAPON, THAT CAN KILL LOTS OF PEOPLE THAT ONCE, PEOPLE WANTING TO FEEL LIKE THAT IS A COOL THING TO DO, IT IS REALLY A BAD COMBINATION.

SUE: LET'’S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE STATISTICS THAT YOU MENTIONED.

WHAT MASTER ROUTERS HAVE BEEN COMMON ACCORDING TO THE VIOLENCE PROJECT, WHICH STUDIED DATA FROM MASS SHOOTINGS AND 2021.

EARLY CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND EXPOSURE TO VIOLENCE, AND IDENTIFIABLE GRIEVANCE OR CRISIS POINT, HAVE STUDIED THE ACTIONS OF PAST SHOOTERS, THE MEANS TO CARRY OUT AN ATTACK -- I HAVE BEEN THINKING A A LOT LATELY ABOUT WHEN I WAS YOUNGER AND THE OLDER PEOPLE IN MY LIFE, WHO WOULD YELL AT PEOPLE THAT WOULD PARK IN FRONT OF THEIR HOUSE ON THE STREET, "KIDS, GET OFF MY LAWN!"

AND WE ARE LOOKING AT THESE OPEN CARRY STATES, WHERE PEOPLE HAVE MORE ACCESS TO WEAPONS AND THEY ARE SHOOTING PEOPLE FOR TURNING AROUND IN THEIR DRIVEWAY, AND THESE ARE NOT KIDS DOING THE SHOOTING, THESE ARE OLDER PEOPLE.

IS THAT THE ACCESSIBILITY TO THE WEAPONS THAT HAVE MADE OUR INTERACTIONS MORE VIOLENT?

>> IT'’S A COMBINATION OF A LOT OF THINGS.

IT CERTAINLY IS, THE MORE THINGS YOU HAVE TO KILL PEOPLE AND THE AVAILABILITY, THE MORE LIKELY THAT IS GOING TO BE AN OUTCOME.

THE OTHER THING IS, AND I KNOW PEOPLE DON'’T LIKE TO HEAR IT BECAUSE I THINK IT IS AN EXCUSE, BUT THERE IS A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE RELATED TO THIS MORE THAN PEOPLE THINK OF.

THIS IS NOT PEOPLE HEARING VOICES AND SO ONE KIND OF MENTAL ILLNESS.

.

THESE ARE PEOPLE STRUGGLING, THEY ARE FRUSTRATED.

THERE'’S A FAILING MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM.

IT'’S BROKEN.

IF YOU CALL TO GET A PSYCHIATRIST NOW AND THE GREATER BOSTON AREA, IT COULD BE MONTHS BEFORE YOU FIND SOMEBODY, TO FIND A GREAT THERAPIST.

THEY ARE LIVING NETWORKS BECAUSE INSURANCE COMPANIES DO SUCH A POOR JOB OF REIMBURSEMENT.

THE BILLING SYSTEM IS A NIGHTMARE.

SO WE HAVE THIS HORRIBLE NEXUS.

BAD MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEM, PEOPLE GROWING WITH FRUSTRATION.

AND SO NOW PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY MENTALLY ILL IN THAT CLASSIC SENSE ARE NOW THE PEOPLE ENGAGING IN THESE BEHAVIORS THAT THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD A BETTER SYSTEM TO DEAL WITH IT.

SUE: ALEX HORTON, DID YOU GUYS LEARN ANYTHING REPORTING ON THIS THAT WAS SURPRISING TO YOU?

WHERE ARE ALL NOW SORT OF EXPERTS IN MASS SHOOTINGS.

WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT STRUCK OUT TO YOU THAT WAS SHOCKING?

>> YEAH.

SURPRISING THINGS ARE THINGS I CONFIRMED AND THAT I KNOW TO BE TRUE, AS SOMEBODY THAT'’S BEEN AROUND GUNS FOR A WHILE NOW.

TO GO BACK TO YOUR APPROVED DISCUSSION, THERE IS ANOTHER TRANSITION OF THE GUN CULTURE THAT TOOK PLACE OVER A FEW YEARS.

WHEN YOU HAD BASICALLY FROM THE FOUNDING TO ABOUT THE 1960'’S AND 1970'’S, YOU HAD A GUN CULTURE ROOTED IN BEING OUTDOORS, HUNTING, SPORTSMAN TYPE STUFF.

ONCE THERE WAS LAWS AND A REALLY BIG FOCUS ON INCREASING LAW ENFORCEMENT, INCREASING HARSHER PENALTIES BECAUSE OF RISING CRIME, THROUGH THE 1980'’S, THERE WAS A GENERAL TERM TO THE NEXT PHASE OF GUN CULTURE WHICH WAS PREDICATED ON SELF-DEFENSE.

ALL THE HUNDREDS OF ADS WERE LOOKED AT FROM 1964 THROUGH TODAY -- FROM 1964 THROUGH TODAY, YOU SEE THIS TRANSITION ABOUT DEFENDING THE COUNTRY OR DEFENDING YOUR HOME, OR DEFENDING YOUR KIDS.

SO THERE IS THIS KIND OF MOVE, FROM SHOOTING HIS RECREATION AND HUNTING, TO MAYBE EVEN FUN TO SURVIVAL, TO I NEED TO PROTECT MY FAMILY HERE.

AND THERE IS THIS DYNAMIC OF THESE PEOPLE GETTING SHOT FOR THESE REALLY SIMPLE REASONS, GOING INTO A DRIVEWAY, KNOCKING ON A DOOR, PREDICATED ON THIS SORT OF INTENSE FEELING OF, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN BE ATTACKED AT ANY TIME, THAT CERTAINLY PLAYS A ROLE.

WHAT I FOUND MOST INTERESTING THAT WE TOUCH ON IN THE STORY IS, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE SORT OF SEMANTICS AT THE TOP OF THE SHOW THAT GUN OWNERS GET INTO, BEING VERY PRECISE ABOUT THE WAY A GUN IS MADE OR THE WAY A GUN IS MANUFACTURED, HOW IT FUNCTIONS, THE ARGUMENT ON THE GUN CONTROL SIDE IS, THIS IS VERY MUCH LIKE "WEAPON OF WAR," VERY SIMILAR TO AN M16 THAT THE MILITARY USES.

THE GUN ADVOCATES SAY, IT COULDN'’T BE MORE DIFFERENT, YOU CAN FIRE AUTOMATIC, THEREFORE THESE ARE NIGHT AND DAY.

IN THE 1960'’S AND 1970'’S, THE ADS TALKED ABOUT HOW CLOSE THE AR-15 TO THE MILITARY'’S M16.

THERE WAS ONE COLD CATALOG PAGE FROM THE 1970'’S THAT SAYS, IT LOOKS LIKE, FUNCTIONS LIKE, AND OPERATES JUST LIKE ITS MILITARY COUSIN.

SO THERE WAS THIS REALLY EARLY ON ATTEMPT BY GUN MAKERS AND ADVERTISERS TO SAY, "LOOK HOW CLOSE THIS IS TO A MILITARY RIFLE."

AND NOW IT IS A FLIPSIDE.

WHICH IS AMATEURS SAYING, IT COULDN'’T BE MORE DIFFERENT.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS AN INTERESTING TRANSITION.

SUE: I CAN VIVIDLY RECALL MY GUIDEBOOK THAT I GOT FROM THE NRA, THE SECOND AMENDMENT WAS AT THE FRONT, BUT IT WAS ALL ABOUT SAFETY, THERE WAS NO MENTION OF A DIFFERENT TYPE OF WEAPON TO USE, IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE SPORT OF HUNTING OR THE SPORT OF FIRING.

AND NOTHING ABOUT DEFENDING ANYBODY.

>> CAN IMAGINE TYING -- AND IMAGINE, TYING INTO THAT, IF YOU'’RE SOMEBODY FEELING MARGINALIZED, WHAT SHE MEANT MENTIONED, YOUR FEELING MARGINALIZED, YOU ARE FEELING HORRIBLE ABOUT YOURSELF, YOU ARE FEELING OSTRACIZED BY EVERYBODY AROUND YOU, YOU FEEL YOU NEED TO PROTECT THAT SORT OF SENSE OF WHO YOU ARE, AND THEN YOU GO ONLINE AND YOU START TO SEE PEOPLE SAYING, HEY, DON'’T LET PEOPLE FORCE YOU INTO CORNERS, YOU CAN PROTECT YOURSELF, IT HORRIBLY PLAYS INTO THE DEVELOPING PATHOLOGY THAT SOMEBODY HAS AND THE ACCESS BEING SO EASY TO GET.

NOW YOU ARE SENDING THEM DOWN THE HILL PRETTY QUICKLY AT THAT POINT.

SUE: ALEX, HAVE YOU HAD ANY REACTION FROM THE MANUFACTURERS ABOUT THE STORY OR ABOUT HOW THEY ARE MARKETING THINGS AND IF THEY ARE GOING TO CHANGE?

>> NOBODY WANTED TO TALK ABOUT IT.

IT'’S NOT A BIG SURPRISE.

GENERALLY WHEN IT COMES TO TALKING TO GUN MAKERS, ACCESSORY PRODUCERS, YOU KNOW, IT IS SORT OF LIKE GOING TO THE CIA FOR COMMENT.

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO RESPOND.

THEY WILL TELL YOU, WE DON'’T HAVE ANYTHING TO OFFER YOU.

THERE WAS NOT A TON OF ENGAGEMENT.

SURPRISINGLY, THE ONLY REALLY KIND OF CONVERSATION I HAD WAS, ONE OF THE ADS WE FEATURED WAS FROM A COMPANY THAT NO LONGER EXISTS, IT WAS ACQUIRED FROM A HOLDINGS COMPANY, THEY STILL MAKE SOME PARTS, AND THEY WANTED TO CONVEY THAT ONE OF THE FLOURISHES OF ADVERTISING EARLY WAS ABOUT CUSTOMIZING THE RIFLE AND THE QUALITY OF PARTS.

WE DIDN'’T SEE A WHOLE LOT OF ENTHUSIASM FROM GUN MAKERS ON EXPLORING THAT.

SUE: AS WE WRAP UP, THE SECOND AMENDMENT IS NOT GOING AWAY, THE WEAPONS ARE NOT GOING TO BE TAKEN BACK.

IS THERE ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO TRY TO SHIFT CULTURE, TO PUT WEAPONS IN A PLACE WHERE THEY WILL BE LESS DANGEROUS TO US?

>> FROM THE CLINICAL STANDPOINT, ONCE A PERSON IS AT A DOOR OF A SCHOOL OR A RESTAURANT OR SHOPPING MALL WITH A GUN, IT IS TOO LATE.

YOU CAN'’T DO ANYTHING CLINICALLY.

IF YOU WILL STOP THIS FROM HAPPENING, YOU HAVE TO START WAY UPSTREAM ON THESE THINGS AND START TO THE -- START TO PROVIDE THE PEOPLE THAT PEOPLE NEED.

FOR EVERYBODY THAT WANTS TO PUT AN ARMED PERSON IN A SCHOOL, HOW ABOUT PUTTING ANOTHER TRAINED COUNSELOR IN THE SCHOOL, PROBABLY THE EQUAL PRICE BUT A BETTER OUTCOME BECAUSE IT IS EARLIER IN THE PROCESS.

SUE: THERE HAVE BEEN PEOPLE WITH GUNS TRYING TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE THERE WITH LITTLE OR NO IMPACT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, APPRECIATE YOUR WORK ON THIS.

NEXT UP, GROWING UP ALWAYS COMES WITH EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES, BUT IN RECENT YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN GROWING CONCERNS ABOUT THE STATE OF MENTAL HEALTH AMONG KIDS IN THIS COUNTRY.

BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, THE CDC FOUND THAT ONE IN FIVE CHILDREN IN THE U.S. HAD A MENTAL HEALTH DISORDER.

BUT AT THE HEIGHT OF COVID INFECTIONS BACK IN 2021, DATA SHOWED MORE THAN A THIRD OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE FEELING AN IMPACT ON THEIR MENTAL HEALTH.

44% REPORTED FEELING PERSISTENTLY SAD OR HOPELESS.

THE STATISTICS THAT LAURA MORTON UP CLOSE AS SHE WATCHED HER DAUGHTER, SEVEY MORTON, SUFFERED THROUGH ANXIETY.

WHICH INSPIRED HER DOCUMENTARY, "ANXIOUS NATION."

>> I WAS LIKE, I'’M HYPERVENTILATING, I CAN'’T BREATHE, WAS GOING ON?

I WAS LIKE, I THINK YOU ARE HAVING A PANIC ATTACK.

>> I WAS SCREAMING, BEING REALLY UPSET.

YOU KIND OF START SPIRALING.

>> I THINK ABOUT IT, I PRAY ABOUT IT, WHAT'’S THE NEXT SOLUTION, HOW CAN I HELP?

SUE: LAURA MORTON AND HER DAUGHTER JOINED ME NOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR EXPERIENCE BOTH IN THE DOCUMENTARY AND JOINING US NOW.

IT IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO TALK ABOUT.

BUT I WANT TO START AND ASKING, CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT IT IS LIKE, WHAT YOU ARE FEELING WHEN YOU ARE HAVING A PANIC ATTACK, AND HOW OUR AUDIENCE MIGHT HELP UNDERSTAND WHAT IS GOING ON WITH YOU AND WITH OTHERS?

>> HI, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

YES, SO FOR ME PERSONALLY, WHEN I'’M HAVING A PANIC ATTACK, AND THERE'’S MULTIPLE CLIPS IN THE FILM, I HONESTLY JUST TRY.

TO CRY AND I CRY AND I CRY AND I SPIRAL INTO THIS WHOLE EMOTION WAVE OF JUST CRYING OVER THINKING, TENSING UP.

AND IT IS JUST SOMETHING I CAN HOLD BACK.

SUE: I SHARE THIS WITH PERMISSION, WE HAVE A LOT OF ANXIETY, WE HAVE SEVERE OCD IN OUR FAMILY, I ALMOST FELT LIKE YOU HAD A CAMERA IN MY HOME, AS WE WERE WATCHING THE BEGINNING OF YOUR FILM, SHOWING THESE BRAVE KIDS AND THEIR FAMILIES SHARING WHAT THEY ARE GOING THROUGH.

I KNOW THERE'’S A NUMBER OF FOLKS SITTING AT HOME RIGHT NOW WATCHING SAYING, "WHAT'’S WRONG WITH THESE KIDS TODAY?

THEY'’VE GOT EVERYTHING IN THE WORLD.

I GREW UP WHEN MY PARENTS WERE IN THE GREAT DEPRESSION, MY PARENTS LIVED THROUGH THE HOLOCAUST, THEY HAVE ALL THE THINGS THEY NEED IN THE WORLD COME -- IN THE WORLD, WHY ARE THEY ANXIOUS?"

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THOSE PEOPLE?

>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING THAT.

THIS IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST A-HA MOMENTS MAKING THE FILM.

WHAT OUR KIDS ARE FEELING TODAY IS VERY REAL FOR OUR KIDS.

I THINK ANXIETY HAS ALWAYS BEEN AROUND.

WE'’VE HAD DIFFERENT NAMES FOR IT THROUGHOUT DIFFERENT GENERATIONS.

WE'’VE HAD RAMBUNCTIOUS LITTLE BOYS, NERVOUS LITTLE GIRLS, SO I THINK ANXIETY IS NOT NEW, IT'’S BEEN AROUND SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME.

I THINK WE UNDERSTAND THAT A LITTLE BIT BETTER TODAY.

THE MOST SURPRISING AUDIENCE FOR "ANXIOUS NATION" HAS BEEN GRANDPARENTS.

BECAUSE THEY ARE REALLY STRUGGLING WITH WATCHING THEIR KIDS NOW RAISE THEIR KIDS.

AND I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT WE HAVE THIS GENERATION OF REALLY ANXIOUS PARENTS WHO NEVER COPED WITH THEIR OWN ANXIETY.

NOW THEY ARE RAISING THEIR KIDS AND THEY DON'’T WANT THEIR KIDS TO FEEL THE WAY THEY DO.

THEY DON'’T WANT THEIR KIDS TO BE HURTING THE WAY THEY DO.

SUE: I WANT TO GET TO THE ANXIOUS PARENTS, TOO, LAURA, BUT I WANT TO ASK THIS QUESTION AND SEVEY, MAYBE YOU HAVE AN OPINION ON THIS AS WELL, I SAY ALL THE TIME I GREW UP IN THE 1960'’S AND 1970'’S, AND GOING UP FELT LIKE IT WAS AN ENTIRELY DIFFERENT PLANET.

THE NUMBERS SUPPORT, DRINKING, NOT A BIG A DEAL WITH KIDS, ADDICTION IS A MAJOR ISSUE, DON'’T WANT TO DOWNPLAY IT, BUT KIDS TODAY, NOT DRINKING AS MUCH, NOT PARTYING AS MUCH, NOT DRIVING AS MUCH, NOT HAVING AS MUCH SEX, NOT DOING THE SORT OF SELF-HARM THAT MANY OF US DID IN OUR ADOLESCENTS AND OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL YEARS, SO THAT SHOULD BE GOOD NEWS.

BUT I'’M WONDERING, LAURA, WAS THAT MAY BE A WAY THAT WE WERE SELF-MEDICATING AND SELF TREATING OURSELVES, WHAT SOME OF THE SAME ISSUES THAT TEENAGERS ARE HAVING TODAY?

>> I'’M NOT AN EXPERT, I'’M A MOM OF AN ANXIOUS CHILD, SO I CAN'’T SPEAK TO THAT SPECIFICALLY, BUT I CAN TELL YOU MY OPINION, I THINK THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS FOUND WAYS, IF WE ARE NOT FEELING COMFORTABLE IN OUR SKIN, ESCAPISM IS ALWAYS SOMETHING THAT WE TURN TO.

I THINK WE OPEN OUR FILM WITH EXACT WHAT YOU JUST SAID.

THAT THE -- THAT IN THE PAST, PREGNANCY, DRINKING, DRINKING WHILE DRIVING, DRUG USE, THAT WAS ALWAYS A VERY BIG ISSUE AND A CONCERN, AND THAT'’S GONE DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING ARE THESE SOARING RATES OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AMONG OUR YOUTH.

THERE'’S A VARIETY OF REASONS FOR THAT.

SUE: I WANT TO THROW IT TO ANOTHER CLIP TO A FAMILY WHO SHARES IN YOUR DOCUMENTARY, IT IS JACKIE RAMSEY, SPEAKING WITH HER DAUGHTER, COOPER, ABOUT HER ANXIETY.

>> SOMETIMES, I'’M AFRAID YOU WILL GET MAD.

LIKE, WHEN I DID BAD IN THAT AUDITION, YOU ARE JUST LIKE, "COOPER, I'’M DONE, I'’M SICK OF IT."

>> I WORRY THAT IT'’S A REFLECTION ON ME.

I ALSO KIND OF FEEL THAT I WOULD NAIL EVERY AUDITION, THEY SEEM REALLY EASY TO MAKE, HERE I AM SPENDING ALL THE TIME AND THE ENERGY AND THE FINANCIAL COMMITMENT ON THERAPY AND THIS, AND I'’M LIKE, OH MY GOSH, YOU LET YOUR ANXIETY WIN.

SUE: I'’M GOING TO GO TO YOU, SEVEY, THIS IS FROM REAL LIFE, I CAN'’T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES I'’VE SAID THAT'’S ON MY DAUGHTER, SHE RECENTLY SHOWED ME A TECH TALK OF A KID WHO WAS SHOWING OTHER THINGS HIS MOTHER DID IN HIGH SCHOOL -- TIKTOK OF A KID WHO WAS SHOWING OTHER THINGS HIS MOTHER DIDN'’T ASK WHEN HE JUST STAYS AT HOME.

[LAUGHTER] CAN YOU TALK ABOUT HOW IT FEELS FOR YOUR GENERATIONS I HAVE -- FOR YOUR GENERATION TO HAVE THE PARENTAL GENERATION SO UP IN YOUR BUSINESS THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT EVEN THE PARENTS WHO THINGS THEY ARE HANDS-OFF, THEY ARE WE IN THERE?

HOW DOES IT FEEL FOR YOU?

>> I THINK SOME PARENTS DON'’T UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE OF THE INTRODUCTION OF SOCIAL MEDIA.

OUR PARENTS DIDN'’T GROW UP LIKE THAT.

ESPECIALLY SOCIAL MEDIA.

WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING SOCIAL MEDIA AND DEALING WITH THE ISSUES THAT COME ALONG WITH THAT, I JUST DON'’T THINK PARENTS REALLY UNDERSTAND.

AND IT DOESN'’T MEAN THAT THAT IS A GOOD OR BAD THING, BUT I THINK IT'’S JUST, WE ARE GROWING UP IN SUCH DIFFERENT TIMES.

SUE: THAT IS A GREAT EXAMPLE, THAT CLIP OF WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, WITH JACKIE'’S ANXIETY, RIGHT, AND THE ANXIETY THAT WE HAVE PR BUT I ALWAYS SAY THAT WHEN WE BECOME PARENTS, WE WANT TO RAISE OURSELVES BUT UNFORTUNATELY WE DON'’T GET OURSELVES IN THE TIME THAT WE WERE IN.

WE DON'’T GET A CHILDHOOD IN THE 1960'’S, WE GET THE NEW CENTURY.

WHAT DID YOU LEARN MAKING THIS FILM ABOUT THE GENERATION OF PARENTS WITH ALL OF OUR ANXIETY AND WHAT ARE THE EXPERTS TELLING YOU ABOUT WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING WITH THAT?

>> FIRST I WANT TO SAY I THINK IT WAS VERY BRAVE OF JACKIE TO LEAVE THAT SCENE IN THE FILM.

SHE IS NOT ALONE.

SHE'’S NOT THE ONLY PARENT THAT TALKS TO THEIR KIDS THAT WAY.

WE SEE IT ALL THE TIME IN THE SOCCER FIELD, THE BASEBALL FIELD, SWIM MEETS, AUDITIONS, THEATER, THINGS LIKE THAT.

I THINK IT WAS REALLY BRAVE AND IT'’S BRAVE OF YOU TO SAY THAT THAT HAPPENS IN YOUR HOUSE.

THAT WAS THE WHOLE POINT AND PURPOSE OF PUTTING THE MATERIAL IN THE FILM THAT WE DID.

WE WANTED FAMILIES TO FEEL SEEN AND HEARD.

AND WE WANTED THEM TO KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT IN THIS ALONE.

THAT'’S HOW I FELT WHEN I MADE THIS FILM.

I THINK FOR ME, MY BIGGEST A-HA WAS UNDERSTANDING MY DAUGHTER NEEDS TO BE WHO SHE IS, NOT WHO I WANT HER TO BE.

I THINK AS PARENTS, WE ARE WELL-INTENTIONED AND WE THINK WE ARE OFFERING OUR KIDS GREAT ADVICE BY SAYING, YOU SHOULD GO TO LAW SCHOOL, YOU NEED STRAIGHT A'’S.

MAYBE THAT'’S NOT THEIR CALLING.

I FEEL LIKE FOR SO MANY PARENTS, TAKING A STEP BACK AND JUST LETTING OUR KIDS BLOOM WHERE THEY ARE PLANTED, AND BLOSSOMED -- BLOSSOM INTO WHO THEY WANT TO BECOME, I THINK THERE IS A GREAT NEED FOR THAT, NOT ONLY TO US AS PARENTS, BUT THERE'’S NO SUCH THING AS A PERFECT PARENT, WOULD CERTAINLY SHOW THAT IN THIS FILM.

INCLUDING MYSELF.

BUT THERE ALSO IS NO -- THERE'’S NO ESCAPING THAT OUR KIDS ARE STRUGGLING.

I THINK WE JUST NEED TO STOP AND LISTEN AND HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THIS FEELS LIKE FOR THEM.

HE STARTED OFF THIS CONVERSATION BY SAYING, THERE'’S A GENERATION OF PARENTS THINKING, I DON'’T GET IT, WHAT IS SO HARD ABOUT LIFE TODAY?

LIFE IS HARD TODAY.

WHAT KIDS ARE HAVING IS A NATURAL RESPONSE TO THIS MAYHEM THEY ARE GOING THROUGH.

SUE: YOU HEAR YOUR MOM SAY THAT, YOU HEAR PEOPLE SAY, GROW WHERE YOU ARE, BUT YOU GONE SOCIAL MEDIA AND NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU TRY TO EDIT WHAT YOU SEE, YOU ARE BOMBARDED WITH IMAGES OF PEOPLE SHARING THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN AIRBRUSHED AND USED FILTERS AND LIGHTING AND PROFESSIONALLY DONE AND THEY ARE SAYING, "I JUST WOKE UP THIS WAY."

HOW DOES THAT CONFLICT WITH STAYING EMOTIONALLY HEALTHY?

>> BEAUTY STANDARDS AND BODY IMAGE HAS BEEN A BIG CHALLENGE IN MY LIFE.

REALLY WANT TO HIT THE AGE OF 11, 12, 13, THAT IS WHEN IT REALLY ALL STARTED.

I THINK IT IS DIFFICULT FOR GIRLS, ESPECIALLY MY AGE, TO BE GOING ON INSTAGRAM AND TO BE SEEING ALL THESE BEAUTIFUL CELEBRITIES THAT ARE, YES, BEAUTIFUL, BUT ALSO THERE IS SO MUCH BEHIND THE SCENES THAT WE DON'’T UNDERSTAND AND WE DON'’T THINK ABOUT IN THE MOMENT.

WE ARE JUST LIKE, "WHY CAN'’T I LOOK LIKE THAT?"

IT'’S A REALLY DIFFICULT THING TO COMPREHEND.

BECAUSE IT IS -- IT IS GETTING JUST SO REAL LOOKING, BUT IT'’S NOT.

SUE: IN THE DOCUMENTARY OF COURSE, LAURA, YOU ADDRESS NOT ONLY THE CHALLENGES OF THE FOLKS IN YOUR FILM, BUT THERE ARE THE DESPAIR AND SEES -- THE DISPARITIES BETWEEN FOLKS THAT ARE BROWN AND BLACK, AFRICAN-AMERICAN, URBAN AND RURAL, IT'’S NOT EASY FOR EVERYONE, IT IS MORE DIFFICULT FOR SOME.

AND AT THE SAME TIME WE KNOW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, PSYCHIATRISTS AND THERAPISTS ARE NOT TAKING INSURANCE, THE OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSE.

EASILY $300, $400 A MONTH.

ONLY CERTAIN CONSTITUENCIES ARE ABLE TO GET HELP AFTER A SIX MONTH OR 12 MONTH WAITLIST TO SEE PSYCHIATRIST.

WHAT ARE THE EXPERTS TELLING YOU ABOUT THIS DESPAIR AND -- HOW THESE DISPARITIES CAN BE ADDRESSED?

>> I THINK THERE'’S A LOT OF WORK THAT WE NEED TO DO.

THERE'’S BEEN A PROVERBIAL COOKING OF THE CAN IN THIS COUNTRY.

FOR THE RICHEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, WE ARE DEFINITELY NOT ONLY FAILING OUR YOUTH BUT ALL OF US IN NEED OF THIS KIND OF CARE RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE CRIMINALIZED MENTAL HEALTH IN THIS COUNTRY.

IF YOU'’RE WALKING DOWN THE STREET, YOU HAVE A HEART ATTACK, THEY ARE CALLING YOU AN AMBULANCE.

BUT IF YOU ARE WALKING DOWN THE STREET AND YOU HAVE A PSYCHOTIC WAY, THEY ARE CALLING THE POLICE -- PSYCHOTIC BREAK, THEY ARE CALLING THE POLICE.

RIKERS ISLAND IS A PRISON.

IT IS NOT A MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY.

I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

WE DON'’T PROVIDE RESOURCES.

CERTAINLY -- REALLY FOR ME IT WAS REALLY EYE-OPENING WHEN I WAS INTERVIEWING DR. HAMID, WHO HAD BEEN WORKING IN FLINT, MICHIGAN FOR MANY YEARS, WORKING WITH FAMILIES WHO WERE GOING THROUGH A LOT DURING THE WATER CRISIS.

AND IT WAS VERY EYE-OPENING FOR ME TO HEAR HER SAY, "THERE WERE NO RESOURCES, NO SCHOOL NURSES, NO SCHOOL COUNSELORS, NOWHERE FOR THESE KIDS OR FAMILIES TO TURN."

AND THEY HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE, PAYING THEIR RENT, OR GETTING THERE -- THEIR KID HEALTH.

WHEN EACH TO DEMAND BETTER IN THIS COUNTRY BUT SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE NEEDS TO START WITH US.

IT IS SYSTEMIC IN OUR HOME.

WE NEED TO TO CONTROL OF THE ISSUE WITHIN HER HOME.

I THINK SO MANY FAMILIES LOOK TO THE SCHOOLS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND THE SCHOOLS ARE NOT EQUIPPED.

THE SCHOOLS SAY, IT IS A FAMILY PROBLEM.

AS LONG AS WE KEEP POINTING FINGERS, WE ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY PROGRESS.

I THINK THERE'’S A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND IT'’S REALLY WHAT I'’VE DEDICATED TO, AS I MOVE FORWARD AND NOT ONLY TALKING ABOUT "ANXIOUS NATION" BUT THE MOVEMENT AROUND IT.

SUE: THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, LAURA MORTON AND SEVEY MORTON.

I SALUTE YOUR BRAVERY AND TRANSPARENCY SHARING YOUR STRUGGLE AND YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING US.

SUE: THE FILM AGAIN IS "ANXIOUS NATION."

YOU CAN CATCH A SCREENING OF IT ON MAY 17TH AT BOSTON'’S REGION THEATER.

FOR TICKETS AND MORE, HEAD OVER TO ANXIOUSNATION.COM.

THAT IS IT FOR TONIGHT.

COME BACK TOMORROW.

A GROUP OF MAYORS HAVE COME TOGETHER TO DIVERSIFY PUBLIC REAL ESTATE PROJECTS.

WE WILL HEAR FROM ONE OF THEM.

THAT IS TOMORROW AT 7 P.M..

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

I'’M SUE O'’CONNELL.

GOOD NIGHT.

♪