Support for youth in today’s society.
Being a youth in today’s society comes with various challenges that are rarely discussed. Youths are in a transitional stage where they struggle to feel accepted, find the right path, and constantly feel the pressure of wondering if they will succeed. This is significant as over half of mental health diagnoses occur between 14 to 24 years of age (Lynch et al, 2019). This can be even more difficult as youth between this age group are trying to establish themselves as individuals. They are also trying to achieve some form of autonomy in society. As such, this can be a difficult period for parents and caregivers to know how to effectively support their children throughout this time of transition. Here are some tips that you can use to work with your youth;
Talk to your youth and validate their needs (for example, if they want to go to see friends or have an opinion different from your own, discuss what this means to them rather than immediately shutting it down).
Allow youth to develop self-growth and independence (Discuss what skills they want to acquire and set them up to successfully develop these tools).
Understand the importance and need for fun/enjoyment. Youth have pressure that comes from school, starting a part-time job, and creating their own social group. Allowing them after-hours time for fun allows them to have their own autonomy and eases the weight of other tasks they have on them.
Lastly, develop a positive sense of community for your youth. Community is a safety net that allows youth to have people around them that they feel supported and accepted by.
Lastly, develop a positive sense of community for your youth. Community is a safety net that allows youth to have people around them that they feel supported and accepted by.When a positive community is established youth increase responsibility and have a purpose behind their actions.
