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| Nov/Dec 2024
As your child moves towards more independence, strong family and community connections play an important role in helping them navigate the challenges of adolescence. These connections provide a sense of belonging, access to valuable resources, and a support network that can buffer against stress, adversity, and risky behaviours.
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Research shows that connections to family and community positively impact mental health through the release of key hormones. Oxytocin, known as the "bonding hormone," is released during social bonding, promoting trust, reducing anxiety, and decreasing cortisol, the body's stress hormone. This leads to greater relaxation and emotional security. Dopamine, the "feel-good" neurotransmitter, is also triggered during social interactions, providing feelings of happiness and motivation.
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A supportive family environment can have a profound impact on a teen's mental health, fostering emotional stability, reducing anxiety, and helping prevent depression. Open family communication allows teens to share their worries and seek advice. When teens feel valued and supported at home, they‘re more likely to develop resilience, knowing they have a foundation of trust and care to turn to when challenges arise. Following are some suggestions on how to keep the lines of communication open and the connections strong.
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Listen. If you are curious about what‘s going on in your child's life, asking direct questions might not be as effective as simply sitting back and listening. Kids are more likely to be open with their parents if they don‘t feel pressured to share information.
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Validate their feelings. It is often our tendency to try to solve problems for our kids, or downplay their disappointments. But saying something like “They weren‘t right for you anyway” after a romantic disappointment can feel dismissive. Instead, show kids that you understand and empathize by reflecting their sentiments back: “Wow, that does sound difficult.”
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Show trust. Teens want to be taken seriously, especially by their parents. Look for ways to show that you trust them. Asking them for a favor shows that you rely on them. Volunteering a privilege shows that you think they can handle it. Letting your kid know you have faith in them will boost their confidence and make them more likely to rise to the occasion. |
Control your emotions. It‘s easy for your temper to flare when your teen is being rude, but don‘t respond in kind. Remember that you‘re the adult and they are less able to control their emotions or think logically when they‘re upset. If you‘re both too upset to talk, hit pause until you‘ve had a chance to calm down.
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Strive to guide vs control. You still get to set the rules, but be willing to explain them. While pushing the boundaries is natural, hearing your thoughtful explanation about why staying out late on school nights isn't in their best interest will make the rule seem more reasonable.
Offer praise. Parents tend to praise children more when they are younger, but adolescents need the self-esteem boost just as much. Adolescents might act like they‘re too cool to care about what their parents think, but the truth is they still want your approval.
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Do things together. Talking isn‘t the only way to communicate, and during these years it‘s great if you can spend time doing things you both enjoy, whether it‘s cooking or hiking or going to the movies, without talking about anything personal. It‘s important for kids to know that they can be in proximity to you, and share positive experiences, without having to worry that you will pop intrusive questions or call them out for something.
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Share regular meals. Dinner conversations give every member of the family a chance to check in and talk casually about sports or television or interests. Kids who feel comfortable talking to parents about everyday things are likely to be more open when harder things come up.
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Be observant. It‘s normal for kids to go through some changes as they mature, but pay attention if you notice changes to their mood, behavior, energy level, or appetite. Likewise, take note if they stop wanting to do things that used to make them happy, or if you notice them isolating. | If you see a change in your teen‘s daily ability to function, ask them about it and be supportive (without being judgmental). They may need your help and it could be a sign they needs to talk to a mental health professional.
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Teens thrive when they have strong connections within their communities.
Feeling valued within a community gives teens a sense of purpose, motivating them to engage in more positive behaviors.
Involving extended family members such as grandparents, aunts and uncles, helps to reinforce the values you‘ve instilled at home. These relationships can also offer different perspectives and provide additional layers of support.
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A study found that teens who had strong, supportive relationships with non-parental adults, were less likely to engage in substance use. These relationships offer support and guidance, which are crucial in helping teens make healthy choices.
If extended family isn‘t nearby, close family friends can step in to play a similar role. These trusted relationships can offer your child the same sense of belonging and security that comes from family ties.
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| Here are a few additional ways teens can get involved in the community:
Engage in community activities through clubs, sports, or common interests at school. Being part of social circles reduces feelings of loneliness or isolation.
A strong, positive friend and peer group supports healthy choices and promotes a positive self-image.
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Connect with communities that offer resources like schools, recreational programs, and mental health services. This resources will provide them with the tools and opportunities they need to develop important life skills.
| Staying connected to cultural heritage and family traditions further supports your teen‘s sense of self. Being part of a community that shares these cultural ties reinforces pride in their identity, helping them navigate challenges with a stronger sense of who they are.
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What Teenagers Need: And How to Provide it Dr. Lisa D‘amour
Dr. D'amour discusses how to equip teens with the tools they need to navigate complex emotions and an ever-changing world.
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Substance use can severely disrupt the connections that are essential to your teen‘s mental well-being. When teens turn to substances, it can hinder their ability to communicate effectively, leading to misunderstandings, arguments, and emotional distance from family and friends.
They may start withdrawing from school events, family time, and hobbies that once brought them joy. As these social bonds weaken, feelings of loneliness and hopelessness can grow, exacerbating any underlying mental health issues and often making the cycle of substance use even harder to break.
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As adolescence is a time often filled with curiosity, peer pressure, and risk-taking behavior, the temptation to experiment with substances can be strong. The earlier substance use begins, the higher the risk of developing substance use disorders later in life.
This is why fostering strong family and community support is so essential during this formative period.
As a parent here are some key points related to substance use and youth that you may find helpful.
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Common Substances: The most commonly used substances by youth include alcohol, tobacco (including vaping products), marijuana, and prescription drugs. Other substances such as inhalants, hallucinogens, and opioids may also be used, though less frequently.
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Factors Contributing to Youth Substance Use
Peer Pressure: Adolescents often face pressure from peers to experiment with substances in order to fit in, seek approval, or feel more mature.
Family Dynamics: A lack of parental involvement, inconsistent discipline, or family conflict can contribute to substance use. Family history of substance abuse also increases risk.
Mental Health Issues: Youth with mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, or trauma may use substances as a coping mechanism.
Environmental and Socioeconomic Factors: Youth living in environments with easy access to substances or in communities with high substance use rates are at greater risk. Additionally, stress from poverty or other socioeconomic challenges can increase vulnerability. |
Consequences of Substance Use
Physical and Mental Health Effects: Substance use during adolescence, a critical time for brain development, can lead to both short-term and long-term effects. These include impaired cognitive functioning, memory issues, emotional instability, and poor decision-making skills. Chronic use can result in serious health problems such as, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory issues.
Academic and Behavioral Problems: Substance use can affect academic performance, leading to lower grades, absenteeism, and a higher likelihood of dropping out. It can also result in behavioral issues like increased aggression, criminal behavior, and conflicts with authority figures.
Risk of Addiction: As mentioned, early initiation of substance use increases the risk of developing substance use disorders later in life, particularly with substances like alcohol, nicotine, and opioids.
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Prevention and Intervention
Education and Awareness: Schools and communities can play a key role in educating youth about the risks of substance use. Evidence-based prevention programs focus on building skills like decision-making, refusal strategies, and managing peer pressure.
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Access to Treatment: For youth already involved in substance use, early intervention is critical. Treatment programs tailored to adolescents, including counseling, behavioral therapy, and family therapy, are effective in reducing substance use and promoting recovery.
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Family and Community Support: As discussed above strong family ties and community bonds can reduce the risk of substance use. Community programs, mentorship, and peer support groups provide safe spaces for youth to engage in substance-free activities.
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Mental Health Support: Addressing underlying mental health issues is key in preventing substance use. Counseling, therapy, and stress-management programs can offer youth ways to cope with emotional distress, reducing the need to turn to substances.
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| This poster encourages students to actively seek and create a supportive community during a critical stage in their social development. It highlights key values that build a strong community such as kindness and support, shared activities, respect, inclusion and positive behaviour.
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Visit the archived Snapshots that cover a variety of topics such as social media, mental health, friendships, bullying, substance use, vaping, consent, conflict resolution and more!
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*The term "parent" as used in the Snapshot is inclusive of anyone who is actively involved in raising a child, whether it be biological parents, grandparents, adoptive parents, guardians, or any other caretakers.
The content provided through the Snapshots is for informational purposes only. It includes general information and does not specifically address the diverse child rearing challenges parents may encounter. Readers are encouraged to verify information and consider their individual circumstances when making decisions. The content is not a substitute for professional advice.
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