Women on Wisdom

Episode 10: Conversations We Avoid - Young Women and Mental Health (w/Chris Coulter)

Episode Summary

Sandra Boyd sits down with Chris Coulter to share his personal journey following the loss of his daughter Maddie, and the work he is now doing to support families navigating youth mental health. Through Chris’s personal story and lived experience, this episode opens up an honest conversation about the pressures young women face today and the challenges parents encounter in recognizing when something is truly wrong. Together, they explore the gaps in support systems and what it takes to create earlier, more meaningful intervention for both youth and families.

Episode Notes

Sandra Boyd sits down with Chris Coulter to share his personal journey following the loss of his daughter Maddie, and the work he is now doing to support families navigating youth mental health.

Through Chris’s personal story and lived experience, this episode opens up an honest conversation about the pressures young women face today and the challenges parents encounter in recognizing when something is truly wrong. Together, they explore the gaps in support systems and what it takes to create earlier, more meaningful intervention for both youth and families.

We talk about:

• Why mental health challenges in young women are increasing
• The warning signs parents often miss or misinterpret
• The impact of social media, pressure, and major life changes
• How to create more open and effective communication with children
• The difference between listening and fixing
• Why current systems and supports are not meeting the need
• The importance of early intervention and accessible resources

Whether you are a parent, leader, or someone supporting families, this episode offers a grounded and practical perspective on how to better understand and respond when something feels off.

Our guest this week:

Chris Coulter is the founder of The MentorWell, an online youth mentoring platform designed to bridge the gap between parenting and therapy by providing young people with access to trusted, non-judgmental mentors. Following the loss of his daughter Maddie, Chris has dedicated his work to supporting families navigating youth mental health challenges and improving early access to support.

He also created the When Something Feels Off Parent Support Group, a community designed to help parents connect, share experiences, and access practical guidance during difficult times. Chris brings both lived experience and professional insight to his work, helping organizations, parents, and communities better understand how to support young people.

Chris’s LinkedIn can be found here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriscoultermentorwell/