Learn how to start important and vulnerable intergenerational conversations that form the foundation of strong, supportive relationships.
November 13, 2023 (New York) — Tis the season for family reunions and resolutions. Family reunions can bring both joy and stress. When thinking about our goals for the next year, we often focus on self-improvement or showing off to other people in our lives. But there is one action that accomplishes both and can significantly improve our mental health: Deepening the connection. The tips presented here can apply to any space or time, but can create connections and ease conflict during the holidays.
“Social connection is a basic human need, as essential to survival as food, water, and shelter,” Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy wrote in his recent opinion. Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation. He shared the sobering fact that research shows that social disconnection is as bad for our overall health as “smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day,” and pointed out that “our individual relationships are an untapped resource – a healing source hidden in plain sight. They can help us live healthier, more productive and more fulfilled lives.
This year, The Jed Foundation (JED), which focuses on mental health promotion and suicide prevention among our nation’s adolescents and young adults, offers concrete ways to begin important and vulnerable intergenerational conversations that form the foundation of strong, supportive relationships. They can also be life-changing and, sometimes, life-saving.
Suicide remains the second leading cause of death among 10- to 34-year-olds in the United States, but it is preventable. Everyone has three key tools they can use to support young people: showing up, being willing to have difficult conversations, and listening deeply. To be able to talk openly about suicide opens the door through which people find help.
“One of the best ways to take care of your emotional health and that of those around you is to connect with the people you care about,” said Dr. Katie Hurley, DSW, child and adolescent psychologist and senior clinical advisor at JED. “Through social connections, you can create a strong foundation for mental well-being. »
Dr. Hurley suggests two ways to create a supportive environment as well as conversation starters—from the everyday to the philosophical—that can be building blocks for more connected, more enjoyable, and more mentally healthy family gatherings now and in the future. coming year.
Make space for IRL connection
Create boundaries for family use of social media. Prioritize time spent with people in person. These face-to-face interactions help foster authentic connections and allow you, your young people and other members of your entourage to share the joys and challenges you experience.
Get out of your comfort zone
Being vulnerable with the people you trust in your life will help strengthen your connections and support network. As a parent, caregiver, or caring adult, admitting that you are experiencing mental and emotional difficulties may seem difficult, but there is a price to pay. Acknowledging challenges makes them more manageable and encourages the same openness in the teens and young adults in your life. It shows them the power of being open and honest. It’s just as important to share what you do to cope with difficult times.
Conversation Starters to Spark Family Connection
Adolescent caregivers
- What do you and your friends know better than the adults around you?
- If you could plan a family trip – with an unlimited budget – where would we go and what would we do?
- If you could host a dinner party for six people you admire most, who would they be?
- If you could solve one problem in the world right now, what would it be?
- What is something people don’t usually know about you when they first meet you?
From adolescents to caregivers
- What mistake did you make that you were afraid others would find out about?
- What is one thing from my generation that you wish you had when you were my age?
- Who was your go-to person when you were growing up?
- What helps you relax when you feel stressed?
- Name one of your most embarrassing moments when you were my age.
From teenagers to teenagers
- What do you wish your family understood about you?
- What is your favorite TikTok account when you want to explore it a little?
- Do you have one thing to do when you’re feeling down?
- How do you like people to support you when you’re going through a tough time?
- Would you rather go to a big party and meet lots of new people or get together with a small group of friends at home?
To learn more about how you can invest in your mental health and that of the young people around you, visit JED Mental Health Resource Center and consult JED’s guides to having difficult but important conversations. For example, 10 Tips for Starting a Conversation with Your Teens About Their Mental Well-Being.
About the Jed Foundation (JED)
JED is a nonprofit organization that protects the emotional health and prevents suicide among our nation’s adolescents and young adults. We partner with high schools and colleges to strengthen their mental health, substance abuse and suicide prevention programs and systems. We equip adolescents and young adults with the skills and knowledge to help themselves and each other. We encourage community awareness, understanding and action on young adult mental health.
Connect with JED: E-mail | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Youtube | LinkedIn
Media contact
Justin Barbo
Director, Public Relations, The Jed Foundation
justin@jedfoundation.org
914-844-4611
