Have you come across the recent CDC statistics on teenage mental health? The situation was already concerning pre-pandemic, and now it has exacerbated. Shockingly, one in three girls has contemplated suicide. It’s crucial for us to take a close look at our surroundings and consider how we can make a positive impact.
To enhance your teenager’s mental well-being, focus on three key areas: support, connection, and hope.
Support
As a parent, you play a pivotal role as the primary support system. However, adolescence often comes with a natural inclination for teens to distance themselves, some more than others. Therefore, it’s vital to ensure they have an additional layer of support beyond you.
Connection
The feeling of connection, the sense of mattering to someone or a community, is indispensable. Without it, teenagers may experience isolation, invisibility, and a sense of unimportance. The pandemic has particularly intensified these feelings of disconnection among teens.
Hope
Many teens today lack a crucial element: hope. It’s essential for boosting mental health, serving as the anticipation that things will improve, even in challenging times. Having hope significantly impacts a teenager’s mental well-being by reducing anxiety and depression.
How does hope make a difference? It shifts the focus from potential negative outcomes to positive possibilities, alleviating anxiety. Additionally, hope counteracts the sense of hopelessness, a major component of depression.
So, how can we instill hope in our teens? Start by evaluating how you discuss the world, people, and society. Recognize the influence your attitude has on your teenager. Are you highlighting positive occurrences? Are you emphasizing the goodness in people? Are you conveying optimism about the future? As their role model, your approach shapes their perception of hope.
Hope stands in stark contrast to despair, a sentiment currently overwhelming our teens. It’s high time we actively nurture hope in our communities, and it all begins with you.
With Heart, Coach Sheri
