[EVE Admin]

According to a CNN article , girl and women of today are more depressed than ever before . Below are highlights

CNN: What is it about this moment in time that makes life so much more emotionally challenging for teenage girls?

Donna Jackson Nakazawa: There is so much focus on performance and competition. Our children are missing that important part of childhood, those in between years, ages 7 to 13, when they should be doing things like hanging out with their friends and lying in the grass to chat about whatever. We’ve replaced that with a fast-moving culture and have also added in social media, which kids are not supposed to be on until age 13, but many get on much earlier.

• This discussion was modified 2 years ago by  EVE Admin.

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[Adwoa Osafredu Asubonteng]

I recently chanced upon a 13 year old girl in medical school, which I believe is a glorious and amazing feat. However, I was struck by how she will be missing out on the creation of core childhood-teen memories with her mates. Some may not deem that as important but there is a reason for which there are stages to life. It is to allow us go through the many phases, enjoy or learn from them, and then move on to the next stage with those experiences at the back of our minds. It also helps us show empathy to others who make certain mistakes we possibly made or almost made at those ages. In the example cited, medical school is very strenuous even for adults who are believed to know how to care for their mental and physical health to a great extent. I can only imagine what a teen, below 16, would be exposed to and facing. I believe in such circumstances, school counsellors and parents should endeavour to be there at all times for all the unforeseen circumstances awaiting the child or teen. Parents can also encourage their young ones to take their time and enjoy the various stages of life. They may further let them know that they are not behind for not getting certain grades, attending certain levels of education at their age or being as academically sharp as their counterparts. Neither are they a failure for not being in a relationship or having all the things their counterparts easily have access to which they probably don’t. Contentment and constant elevation from who they were yesterday (and not competition with others) availeth much, for sanity to prevail in their mental and physical health.

[Cathy Morton]

Very insightful. Contentment is a key word in what i summed up from your post. According to the CNN article, social media influence has created a lot of discontentment not just amongst young people but women in general.

“i feel lucky to be part of the last generation to experience childhood without much in the way of digital life” quoted a lady on the CNN article.

[Bri Wireduah Addo]

I completely concur with your views on contentment. Contentment and having the guidance and support of adults both at home and in society is a major factor to mental and emotional wellbeing. Most cases of young girls and women battling depression can be traced back to discontentment and also malcontentment which is primarily enforced by social media pressure as the article mentioned.

[Gloria Boatemaa Andoh]

The teen years are an anxious and unsettling period as boys and girls face the difficulties of transition into adulthood. It is a period in life that is often confusing, leaving teens feeling isolated from family or peers.

[Bri Wireduah Addo]

Absolutely. These years are difficult and confusing enough without the negative influence of social media, emotionally and physically distant parents and judgemental societal norms and standards. Growing up is frightening and confusing for all generations but gen Z most certainly have more to navigate what with social media and the world being a global village

[Gloria Boatemaa Andoh]

Yep

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