Moana and Maui are shown in a scene from the 2016 animated movie “Moana.” (CNS photo/Disney)
CHURCH SOCIAL TIPS
Sparking conversations with today’s teens is hard! Two years of living in a pandemic have affected the mental health of our teenagers in extraordinary ways. Social isolation shined a light on the anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses plaguing teens and college students.
The book “Three Big Questions That Can Change Every Teenager,” by Kara Powell and Brad Griffin, asserts that teens grapple with the questions of “Who am I?” “Where do I fit?” and “What difference can I make?”
One of the questions is most important to your child, and by asking the three questions, it can help to focus conversations around what is most important to them as opposed to what parents might think determines success. Baby boomers like myself were encouraged to get a college degree or a government job. Millennials and Gen Zers define success very differently. In fact, for many, making a difference is more important than financial security. Others may be focused on belonging to a community or self-awareness.
The movie “Moana,” based on a Polynesian coming-of-age story, tells of a bold teenager heading to sea to find Maui, a demi-God, to help restore her people’s land. Moana eventually finds out her purpose along the way.
Her story represents the teen or young adult trying to answer the question, “Who am I?” How they identify may cause them to go against the grain of what their parents or ancestry has always done. These kinds of tensions can cause anxiety, depression and isolation.
Helping teens focus on discovering who they are, finding community and making a difference in the world is essential to connecting with them. When kids don’t feel a connection, it can cause them to feel adrift and alienated, a kind of alienation that can lead to very dark places in their minds.
“Young people are killing themselves at alarming rates,” according to a recent blog post titled “Five Critical Changes in Post-Pandemic Youth Ministry” on the Fuller Youth Institute website.
“For ages 10-24, suicide is the second leading cause of death. In fact, more teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease, combined.”
Powell and Griffin’s book focuses on research with a control group of over 2,000 participants, and the Fuller Youth Institute provides several helpful ideas and resources to help parents talk story with their kids. Find daily posts at @fulleryouthinstitute on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube or @fulleriFYI on Twitter for tips to help you and your teen navigate challenges that impact their mental health.
The National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry also provides a comprehensive list of resources for parents to dip into when they need help dealing with a spectrum of challenges connected to mental health. Visit the NFCYM website landing page nfcym.org/resources/topics/mental-health to review the list.
Lastly, share a gift of a little saint, St. Dymphna, patron saint for those suffering from mental illness to remind them that they can call for the intercession of a great saint to help them in times of distress — they are not alone!
Hayes-Pierce is a Catholic Social Media consultant based in California.
