Leading Psychologist to Address Youth Mental Health Crisis at Biofeedback Conference

Dr. Roseann Capanna-Hodge, a leading voice in children's mental health, will address the youth mental health crisis at the Northeast Region Biofeedback Society (NRBS) 2025 Annual Conference in New York City. Her presentation, "The Hidden Epidemic: Emotional Dysregulation in Today's Youth," will focus on how nervous system dysregulation underlies many mental health and learning challenges that conventional approaches often miss.

The conference, scheduled for October 24–26, 2025, brings together prominent mental health experts to share science-driven solutions for what Dr. Roseann describes as a critical public health issue. "We are facing a youth mental health crisis, but the real issue isn't just anxiety or attention—it's dysregulation of the nervous system," she explained. "When we calm the brain first, kids can focus, learn, and heal."

The urgency of this topic is underscored by recent statistics showing diagnosed anxiety among adolescents increased by 61% between 2016 and 2023, while depression diagnoses rose by 45% during the same period. Currently, nearly one in five teens lives with a diagnosed mental or behavioral condition, with emotional dysregulation affecting 30–50% of children in clinical settings. Many children still struggle to access appropriate care despite these alarming numbers.

NRBS 2025 features an exceptional lineup of thought leaders including trauma expert Bessel van der Kolk, nutrition researcher Thomas Campbell, digital stress authority Erik Peper, screen addiction researcher Stoyan Vezenkov, neuroinflammation specialist Marina Makous, and neurofeedback leader Lynda Thompson. The conference theme, "Rethinking Paradigms: Innovative Approaches for Optimal Wellness," reflects its commitment to bridging cutting-edge neuroscience with practical applications. More information about the event can be found at https://nrbs.org/2025-nrbs-annual-conference.

For mental health practitioners, the conference offers cutting-edge clinical tools in biofeedback, neurofeedback, and trauma care to expand treatment options and improve patient outcomes. Educators will learn actionable classroom strategies that directly reduce stress and improve learning in an era when dysregulation disrupts classrooms nationwide. Parents can benefit from the Youth Wellness Intensive, which provides hands-on strategies for raising regulated, resilient children in a digital-stress world.

The implications of this conference extend beyond the clinical setting into educational systems and family dynamics. By addressing nervous system regulation as the foundation for mental health, the approaches discussed could transform how schools support struggling students and how families manage behavioral challenges. The integration of biofeedback and neurofeedback techniques represents a shift toward more personalized, physiological approaches to mental health care that complement traditional talk therapy.

As digital stress and academic pressures continue to impact youth mental health, the strategies shared at NRBS 2025 offer hope for more effective interventions. The conference's focus on blending neuroscience with practical applications makes it relevant for anyone concerned about the wellbeing of the next generation, from healthcare providers to classroom teachers and parents seeking evidence-based approaches to support their children's mental health.