education
The United Nations commemorated August 12, 2018 to be International Youth Day. This year’s theme is “Safe Spaces for Youth” to bring awareness to the need for safe spaces for youth in our communities. A safe space, as defined by the UN, is a space “ where youth can come together, engage in activities related to their diverse needs and interests, participate in decision making processes and freely express themselves.” https://www.un.org/development/desa/youth/news/2018/07/iyd/
Although this day has passed, safe spaces are necessary year round, especially during a time of intense political discourse and social change.
Sex positive language assumes that all consensual sexual activities are part of a healthy lifestyle. If a young person has questions about sex or relationships, give them accurate, unbiased information and resources.
If they have an interest, take it seriously!
Make a space where minority students feel empowered to speak up. This shows teens that their voices matter.
According to Advocates for Youth, about 10% of teens identify as LGBTQ. Positively acknowledging and supporting LGBTQ students and creating a non-negotiable policy for discriminatory language can significantly affect their mental health. Showing respect and acknowledging identities will make a significant impact on at least a handful of students.
And learn and practice saying names correctly! If you are unsure of how a name sounds or what pronouns a person uses, just ask! Just doing this affirms a person's identity and gender expression and helps prevent triggers for them.
Creating a supportive environment and allowing a moment for meditation or deep breathing when a young person is stressed can help them focus and reflect on their emotional state.
Sometimes people just need a moment. Offering space for this and tools to help teens center themselves, like breathing balls, can be really helpful for mental health.
If you see, hear, or think bullying might be happening, listen to what is happening and learn more about what’s going on.
Laughter and humor can help heal and build bonds. I remember having a running joke in one of my English classes that kept us giggling for weeks. Little did we know, this was probably healing for all of us.
Being around young people is a great thing, but it is important to take care of your needs so that you can be a good mentor to others.
