Note from Dennis:
Hope- something that we all need. It is a feeling and belief that good things can happen, even when life is tough. As a result, a positive attitude emerges and energizes us to work harder and feel happier. Without it, depression and darkness can set in and overcome the body and mind
Love- the universal virtue that binds us together. It is the unifying force that gives purpose to our lives. There are many forms: love of God, love of family, and love for humanity.
Faith- a virtue necessary for our success. The impossible become possible. It has the potency to open our eyes and make things happen beyond our wildest dreams.
The acquisition of virtues is vital as our young people transition from adolescence to adulthood. Value-based decision-making is critical in a world full of challenges. Inflation, divorce, abuse, bullying, hate crimes, racial prejudice, mass shootings, the homeless, immigration, and climate change are but a few. The volume of these problems seems overwhelming. Unfortunately, the mental health of our teenagers has steadily declined over the last decade. Here are some statistics.
The Centers For Disease Control, for youth between the ages of 10 and 24:
*Suicide is the third leading cause of death.
*More teenagers die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung disease combined.
*4,600 lives are lost each year to suicide .
*Each day in our nation, there are 5,400 suicide attempts by students in grades 7-12. (More than 2 million per year)
*3.2 million teens ages 12-17 had a major depressive episode in 2017.
The U.S. Administration for Children and Families Maltreatment data, the most current data states:
*More than 600,000 children are abused each year.
*An estimated 618,000 were victims of abuse and neglect in 2020.
*In 2020, 1,750 children died from abuse and neglect.
* 75% were neglected, 16% physically abused, 9% sexually abused and .2% sex trafficked.
*The statistics on sexual abuse are considered underestimated, but this fact is unsubstantiated.
How can we help?" Preparation is a necessity. Young people need to be taught how to identify, understand, and accept their feelings. This information becomes a key component in problem-solving.
As adolescents mature, their focus shifts to character development. This is a time to look inwardly, exploring the spirituality that is within. The acquisition of virtues now becomes important, individually and socially. Kindness, generosity, compassion, forgiveness, and tolerance are examples of virtues that define who they are. These are the qualities they will continue to develop for the rest of their lives.
We use cookies to enable essential functionality on our website, and analyze website traffic. By clicking Accept you consent to our use of cookies. Read about how we use cookies.
Your Cookie Settings
We use cookies to enable essential functionality on our website, and analyze website traffic. Read about how we use cookies.
Cookie Categories
Essential
These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our websites. You cannot refuse these cookies without impacting how our websites function. You can block or delete them by changing your browser settings, as described under the heading "Managing cookies" in the Privacy and Cookies Policy.
Analytics
These cookies collect information that is used in aggregate form to help us understand how our websites are being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are.