A Safe Space is a Basic Necessity for All Teens
By Jennifer Wolfe-Hagstrom, LICSW
It’s a tough time in our big world, especially for anyone who feels different from the norm. We are seeing this all over the news, social media, and in our communities. Living in a time when minorities across the spectrum are speaking up and demanding to be accepted, tolerated, and treated as equals. Young people are speaking out about violence, bullying, and mental health needs and while it is disappointing that our youth are put in a position to need to be activists in these areas, it does fill up my heart to see such confident teenagers fighting for what they believe is right and just.
This topic of social justice is near and dear to my heart, as a licensed social worker my professional training is rooted in fighting for the underdog. The first person referred to as a social worker, Jane Adams, fought hard for the rights of immigrants and people living in settlement houses in Chicago. My profession is built upon the understanding that all people have inherent dignity and worth and should be treated as such.
My work and heart have guided me to providing high quality mental health services to people who feel like they don’t fit in or people that feel they are out of the ordinary in some way. I say this also knowing that I too feel this way and have for as long as I can remember, I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad thing, but certainly something that needs to be addressed in order to feel confident and thrive in the world. I have found my way to work with many in the LGBTQ+ community and this brings me to some important research that has been coming out in the past year.
One study in particular has been very moving for me as a therapist of teens who feel different, “GBTQ youth who report having at least one accepting adult were 40% less likely to report a suicide attempt in the past year” according to this Trevor Project Research Brief.
Think about that for a minute.
For LGBTQ+ youth who feel they have no accepting adults the risk for attempting to kill themselves is 27.3%. With “at least one accepting adult” that number drastically decreases to 17%. That means that for youth who identify as LGBTQ+ their safety and wellbeing will be significantly better by having just one person who they feel they can be themselves around.
Think about what could happen to those statistics if the same LGBTQ+ youths found a safe-space group where they could meet in community with others to connect, feel validated, and be guided by a skilled therapist who wants nothing more than to see them learn to love themselves exactly as they are.
In our small community of Southern New Hampshire we need more spaces that are safe for people to show up as they are and make meaningful connections with others. Just look at the attendance statistics for the recent Nashua, NH Pride Festival which doubled, at least, compared to last year, which was the first year of the event. This tells me that more people in our communities want safe-spaces and genuine acceptance.
I believe that we can all find a way to make the world a better place that works for us and utilizes our strengths. For me I’m trying to roll out the welcome mat at Kindness Corner Farm for anyone in need of being accepted just as they are. Here we are trying to ease the pain caused by the state of our world by offering safety, community, connection, and high-quality mental health services to heal our little corner of this messy world.
If you have or know a teen ages 15-17 (ish, some exceptions are made based on individual needs) who feels different or who just needs a safe-space to be themselves and connect with others, check out our current offering, Teen Real Talk Group. Some slots are still available and registration closes Monday, October 14, 2019 so sign up today and your teen will be thanking you soon!
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