Troubling behaviours should not simply be dismissed as teenage rebellion, but understood as possible signals of deeper distress; parents and schools need to balance boundaries with openness, while intervening much earlier when children show signs of emotional or behavioural difficulty
Adolescence is a crucial period of transition—not a phase in which the brain is “unfinished” or inherently irrational
The interview highlights the scale and complexity of adolescent mental health challenges in India, from academic pressure and relationship problems to stigma, economic distress and limited access to care
The teenage brain is still developing, with the emotional and reward systems becoming highly active before the areas responsible for judgement and self-control fully mature