In a 2023 advisory, “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation,” the surgeon general compared the dangers of social disconnection to the risks of smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day. That danger is particularly worrisome for teens and young adults, who report loneliness in large numbers.
Strong social connections can improve young people’s long-term health. If your child is a teen or young adult, encourage them to get involved in their local community. Doing so is a great way to build healthy ties with others. In fact, the surgeon general’s advisory referenced long-term studies indicating that civic engagement in adolescence and early adulthood is not only healthy, but also “positively predicts educational attainment and income potential in adulthood.”
VOICES, a nonprofit assisting youth and families, and Eskenazi Health are helming a research study on youth wellness programming called Promoting Empathy, Engagement and Resilience Support (P.E.E.R.S.). These two organizations are seeking 20 students and Far Eastside residents aged 16 – 24 to form a Youth Advisory Board (Y.A.B.). This board will provide guidance on the study. Board members can build close ties with one another while helping shape wellness programming for their peers.
Additional benefits of participation include:
• A one-time stipend of $500
• Leadership and advocacy development
• Mental Health First Aid training certification (Details on this training can be found at MentalHealthFirstAid.org/About.)
• Access to personal wellness resources
Surveys, interviews and/or discussions will be part of the P.E.E.R.S. study. Participation in the study and on the board are both voluntary.
There are additional benefits as well. Young people’s involvement in improving peers’ mental health can provide helpful insights for their parents. These include tips for adults, such as those youth advocates shared in a Mental Health America post at MHANational.org/Blog/How-Adults-Can-Support-Young-Peoples-Mental-Health-5-Insights-from-Youth-Advocates.
If your teen or young adult enjoys this kind of opportunity, they may find it leads them to additional involvement in leadership programming. For example, VOICES, the co-leader of the study, has a year-long youth leadership pathway program for individuals 12 – 24 years old, in which participants can build “real-world skills, engage in their communities and access paid opportunities that reward consistency, responsibility and initiative — not just attendance.” Visit VOICESCorp.org/Get-Involved/Power-and-Promise for details.
For teens who are intrigued by the Y.A.B. program but can’t take part, there are other options as well. High school juniors can apply to the Mayor’s Youth Leadership Council. Eligibility requirements can be found at MCCOYOUTH.org/MYLC.
Additional leadership opportunities can be found through long-running organizations such as the Center for Leadership Development at CLDInc.org and the YMCA at YMCA.org/What-We-Do/Youth-Development/Education-Leadership. Both organizations provide programming to assist youth with civic skills, educational enrichment and networking abilities.
Numerous volunteering activities are available for young people in Indianapolis as well. Whether your teen or young adult is interested in animals, a particular social issue or sports, they can find a nonprofit to assist. Through volunteerism, they can meet other young people and mentors who share their passions. Visit Do317.com/P/Where-to-Volunteer-Indy for one list of such opportunities.
Activities like these can build youths’ confidence, increase their sense of direction, help them build healthy friendships with other young people, improve their community, and bolster their credentials for educational and job opportunities. Check out options today!
Young people interested in the Y.A.B. leadership position should complete the following survey to get started: MCPHDRedcap.HHCorp.org/surveys/. For questions on P.E.E.R.S., please contact Haleigh Kampman, director of operations at Regenstrief Center for Health Equity Research, at Haleigh.Kampman@eskenazihealth.edu.
If you are worried about your child’s mental health, you may find they need more than social engagement opportunities with others. Please don’t hesitate to contact Sandra Eskenazi Mental Health Center at 317-880-8491 to schedule an appointment. For a mental health emergency, please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
Ananda Kannappan, M.D., primary care physician and lifestyle medicine practitioner with Eskenazi Health Center Grande