Springtide Research Institute 630 subscribers 117 views Jul 27, 2023 #MentalHealthandGenZ

Dr. Angela Patterson from Springtide Research Institute and Jean-Marie Navetta, then Director of Learning & Inclusion at PFLAG National, discussed how parents and caregivers can support young people, especially transgender and nonbinary youth. Their Instagram Live conversation highlighted Springtide's free resource, "Nurturing Mental Health for Gen Z: A Handbook for Parents," featuring Jean-Marie as a contributing expert. This discussion was part of Springtide’s #MentalHealthandGenZ series.

Springtide Research Institute studies the religious and spiritual lives of individuals aged 13 to 25, focusing on their meaning-making and faith journeys across various demographics. While their research generally finds similar patterns in religious and spiritual expression across different groups, they discovered significant differences in the mental health experiences of transgender and nonbinary youth compared to their cisgender peers, prompting collaboration with experts like PFLAG.

Key points from the conversation:

+ The Importance of Family Support: Research, including Caitlin Ryan's work, emphasizes the critical role of supportive and, importantly, educated families. This goes beyond mere acceptance to active engagement in understanding and addressing the challenges faced by LGBTQ+ youth.

+ Access to Peers and Resources: Young people need connections with peers who have similar experiences to combat isolation and provide a safe space for discussion. Age-appropriate resources are also vital.

+ Culturally Competent Care: If mental health support is needed, it's crucial to find practitioners who understand and affirm the identities of LGBTQ+ youth.

Safe Spaces: Creating environments where young people can be themselves, whether through school groups like GSAs or informal networks, fosters a sense of community, which is particularly important in the face of opposition.

Taking Concerns Seriously: Adults should avoid minimizing the challenges faced by young people, especially given the constant exposure to negative information online. It's essential to listen and acknowledge the seriousness of their experiences.

Controlling the Home Environment: Parents should actively address negative behaviors and remarks within the family, ensuring a consistently supportive home environment. Silence can be detrimental, and it's important to have difficult conversations with family members who may not be supportive.

The Impact of Legislation: Young people today face a non-stop barrage of information, including negative rhetoric and discriminatory legislation. Parents can support their children by acknowledging the impact of these external forces and focusing on what they can control within the home.

Supporting Allies: Parents of allies should check in with their children about their feelings and any sense of powerlessness they may experience while witnessing their friends' struggles.

Being a Supportive Resource (with Boundaries): Parents who want to support their child's LGBTQ+ friends should educate themselves, understand the young person's situation and boundaries, and know their own limitations. Connecting the young person with appropriate resources like inclusive providers and support groups is crucial.

Youth Advocacy: Engaging in the political process can be empowering for young people, but it's important to have honest conversations about the potential impact and loss of privacy involved. Youth testimony and activism at various levels can be powerful, and parents can help their children understand how to get involved through organizations like PFLAG and state equality groups. This builds community and provides a sense of agency.

Long-Term Perspective: Addressing these issues requires sustained effort, similar to the activism seen during the HIV/AIDS crisis. Changing laws is only the first step; shifting culture and hearts and minds takes much longer.

Call to Action: Springtide Research Institute encourages everyone to visit their website springtideresearch.org and download their free mental health guide for parents, to which Jean-Marie Navetta contributed. This resource provides valuable tools for supporting young people.