In the past, mental health was a taboo subject at family gatherings, often ignored or met with awkward silence when mentioned. However, today’s generation, along with their parents, is recognizing the importance of discussing emotions, treating it as essential as learning basic life skills. This shift is reflected in PBS’s new program, How Are We Today?, which aims to foster open conversations about feelings.

Created by actor Tyler Coe, the show targets viewers aged 11 and older, adopting a sitcom format to tackle the seldom-addressed topic of emotional well-being on children’s television. Tyler, who has personally experienced bipolar disorder, substance abuse, and a suicide attempt, draws inspiration from his own life for the series.

“The motivation behind creating this show is to address the stories and struggles we endure and to reduce the time it takes to deal with them,” Tyler explained in a recent interview with Parents. He emphasizes that How Are We Today? aims to engage young audiences before they face mental health challenges on their own.

Highlighting the critical period when nearly half of all mental health issues emerge, Tyler notes that although the show is geared towards kids, its lessons are universal. He asserts that How Are We Today? is “truly for everyone.”

Set in an apartment complex where Tyler and his friends reside, the show depicts a tight-knit community addressing mental health concerns collectively. Each of the seven episodes delves into different topics, from handling panic attacks and ADHD to distinguishing between sadness and depression.

How Are We Today? is set in an apartment building where Tyler and his friends live, the show follows a close-knit group of neighbors as they navigate real-life mental health issues together. Each of the seven episodes focuses on a different topic from managing panic attacks and ADHD to understanding the difference between sadness and depression.

“Kids nowadays can handle it,” Tyler says. “They can handle it better than we did. They’re not stupid.”

Inspired by television icons Fred Rogers and LeVar Burton, Tyler explains that the show’s foundation rests on four pillars: “kindness, education, science, and working together.”

To make sure those ideas translate responsibly, Tyler teamed up with Dr. Erin Newins, a licensed clinical psychologist known as “Dr. Erin” on the show. She ensures each storyline reflects both emotional truth and scientific accuracy.

“There are good people online that are influencers or content creators that are focused on mental health, but it’s splintered, which can lead to a lot of dangerous things,” explains Tyler. “It can lead to diagnosing you because of what your sign is.”

“I don’t think it’s enough to just talk about these things,” he continues. “The actionable items are completely missed. So Erin adds into that piece of like, we are giving you real-time things to do.”

Dr. Erin wanted the series to feel approachable for families, not clinical or intimidating. She says she hopes it feels like “… a fluid, very authentic, very friendly conversation.” When developing activities that viewers could try at home, she was careful to choose safe, universal tools that anyone could use.

“I’m very aware of people who present information publicly as if this is going to work for everybody,” says Dr. Erin. “I think the most important part is that we were very careful and intentional about what we chose.” She wanted the skills included in the show to be ones “that pretty much anybody could pick up at any given time [that] wouldn’t cause any harm.”

One example? The panic attack episode features awareness activities like breathing exercises, body scans, and journaling, small, practical steps that families can practice together.

Dr. Erin says parents can use the show as a gentle icebreaker to start difficult conversations about feelings. “The most important thing is opening the line of communication, and I think that’s the hardest, because we as parents are so task-focused,” she says. “We have things we have to do, we have lessons we have to teach.” Watching alongside kids can make a big difference.

“What this show offers is an opportunity to be in the same place while the conversation is happening,” explains Dr. Erin. “And sometimes it’s literally that simple. ‘Have you ever felt that way?’ is all you have to [say]. And then the door is open.”

Whether families are dealing with anxiety, stress, or just the ups and downs of everyday life, How Are We Today? reminds viewers that caring for our minds isn’t just for moments of crisis, it’s for everyone. As Dr. Erin puts it, the show is not “reserved for people who are broken, who have something wrong with them.”

“Everybody has mental health.” And as Tyler adds with a smile, “If you’re going through life, this is a good show for you.”

Photo Credit: Tyler Coe Instagram; How Are You Today? Instagram