A Cry for Community Among Teens
By Steve Gahagen
We all need to be part of a community where we are loved and belong. We all need healthy relationships with others. Life-giving community is incredibly important for young people who are growing and developing their sense of self-awareness and confidence. In an age of technology, relationship skills can be more difficult to develop.
This has always been important. However, according to pediatrician Dr. Cheryl Wallace, after the isolation and disconnection that was created through the COVID-19 pandemic, life-giving community is more important than ever.
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy told lawmakers that the pandemic has had a “devastating” impact on the mental health of America’s young people. Murdoch Children’s Research Institute found that clinicians are asking for more programs to help prevent mental health problems in children as well as better training for educators on mental health issues. MCRI Professor Harriet Hiscock noted that “with about 50 percent of mental health disorders beginning before the age of 14 years, prevention and early intervention are paramount if we want to reduce lifetime prevalence of mental health disorders and allow children to live their best possible lives.”
We at Play to Your Strengths are passionate about creating opportunities for young people to thrive in life as they discover and play to their strengths. An important part of this journey is to create community through strengths mentoring clubs where students can learn about their strengths and amplify the strengths of one another. While we are not mental health professionals, we provide a safe, positive, and fun community where children and adolescents can learn coping skills, social skills, and leadership training. In addition, participants are surrounded by caring, trained adults who are fully invested in mentoring and helping students reach their full potential.
Questions to Consider:
What needs do you see among young people in your community? What unique challenges do kids have growing up today?
What opportunities did you have for life-giving community when growing up? Who invested in you and affirmed your value? Who believed in you?
Is there a student you can encourage and perhaps mentor who is not your child? Their story could be dramatically different because you did.