Attention parents: Read today’s story about teen suicide

We are very appreciative of the many faithful readers here at The Slidell Independent.
So, we don’t usually make any special pitch to “read this story” other than offering our newspaper each Thursday at 150 area business locations where you can pick it up for free.
This week, however, we need to make an exception to that rule. We want to make a very special plea for parents and grandparents to read one story, in particular, in today’s paper.
It is the front page story interviewing NAMI Executive Director Nick Richard about the status of our teens today.
Richard was approached to discuss how the past two years of COVID, and the masks that went with it, have affected our children, younger to older. He has many insightful comments to say about that, especially the way the COVID epidemic brought fear to children due to the way the virus was portrayed from the beginning, thereby scaring parents to be afraid that anyone catching COVID might die.
But beyond the COVID issues, Richard talked about his biggest concern today involving today’s teens, and a statistic released in December by the U.S. Surgeon General that says one in five teens are “seriously” considering suicide on any given day.
Richard admitted how scary it is to even consider such a thing, but his 20 years of experience with mental health issues, and teens, makes him a person who should be listened to about that topic.
Richard seemed even more concerned about the way Social Media has affected young people, and the heavy pressure it puts on them to be beautiful, popular and more. The “high expectations from Social Media on today’s teens” is probably the most overwhelming reason young people feel immense pressure today, consequently, leading to suicidal thoughts.
We understand how difficult it is for parents to put controls on Social Media, Internet use or phones with today’s teens, and even younger children. If you are a parent who has real, serious controls on Social Media when it comes to your kids then you are probably the exception. Kids themselves pressure their parents to let them have phones at such young ages, and we know that phones mean access to the Internet and Social Media. No one is saying it is easy to take a tough stand.
But considering the real statistics from the U.S. Surgeon General, we must do all we can to help and protect our teenagers. We need to follow the recommendations to talk to them, get closer to them, see what is happening in their lives, and then act, even if it is very hard to do.
No one wants to regret lack of action today and then face tragedy tomorrow, especially if it involves your children. Read today’s story and listen to an expert who has seen the hardship that can result from avoiding the difficult challenges of parenting in today’s world.
It may be the hardest thing you ever did, and the most important thing you ever do.