Amesbury School


Kia ora koutou

Global Youth Mental Health Crisis  

I was recently doing some research for an article on some of the complex global problems we are facing in the world today. Along with the much talked about global climate crisis and increasing inequity and poverty there was mention of a less well known crisis – the global youth mental health crisis. This crisis has jumped from being nowhere on the list to near the top in a very short period of time. This is something that is certainly making itself known to many families and it is quickly becoming noticeable in schools. In schools we now have an unprecedented number of students with high anxiety, depression, suicide ideation and thoughts of, or actual, self-harm. Increasingly younger children are doing serious harm to themselves.

As a society, we need to ask ourselves why this is so and what we can do about it. Certainly we know that technology is a contributor. Though young people are more connected than they have ever been as a result of social media, it has been suggested that they are less deeply connected in enduring relationships of unconditional regard. With social media, relationships are often more superficial and less based in reality. On social media people are able to present a “romantic” or “idyllic” view of their lives and they are able to present themselves as the heroes in their own stories. This can contribute to other people’s feelings of inadequacy because their own lives do not measure up. On social media, our lives can be airbrushed.

Parents are increasingly not sufficiently present as a result of the devices that are continually in their hands and taking their attention. Though physically present, parents are more frequently mentally and emotionally absent – still working even though working hours have long been over. Children are being left to their own devices – babysat by you tube and other over-stimulating apps.

There are many other factors contributing to the global youth mental health crisis that may be out of our control, but being present and attentive to our children is one thing we can do. I urge us all to put aside our devices and pay more attention to our children. This way they will grow up knowing they are valued and unconditionally loved by their parents; and this will help them to have the resilience they need to face a troublesome and, at times, difficult world.

Nga mihi nui ki a koutou katoa

Lesley


  1. 12th - 31st May

    Upcoming school-wide events, lost & found, community & school notices...   Read more…
  2. Hall available for birthday parties in Churton Park!

    Amesbury School is a light and bright community hall available for convenient and fun kids birthday parties. Read more…
  3. Rhythmic Gym Trial Lesson 

    We are considering adding rhythmic gym to our co-curricular program, alongside music and drama lessons! Read more…
  4. Do you and your family like board games?

    Wellycon 2017 is being held in Wellington over Queen's Birthday weekend - head along for some gaming fun! Read more…
  5. Kahurangi Performance

    Students enjoyed watching as the traditional songs and dances of the Pacific Islands and Aotearoa were brought to life... Read more…
  6. Pōwhiri on Monday

    1 teacher, 15 students and their families welcomed to Amesbury... Read more…
  7. New Students!

    A big welcome to Amesbury School to Rebecca & Dineth who have recently started in Te Rito hub. Read more…
  8. Term Two Community Evening

    Our Community Evening for Term Two is on Wednesday 7 June from 5.30-7pm.  Read more…
  9. Amesbury Ski Camp 2017

    Do you fancy four days on a secluded mountainside? Keen to ski until your heart's content? Are you in the mood to stay in our very own ... Read more…
  10. Wanted - School Library Volunteers!

    Recently the teachers went on an amazing trip to the Children's Bookshop in Kilbirnie and selected lots of new books for the Hubs and ... Read more…
  11. Amesbury Junior Invitational Cross Country

    After our successful school cross country, Amesbury School will now be hosting our annual Junior Invitational Cross Country. Read more…
  12. Congratulations to our graduates!

    Three of our fabulous teachers, Stephanie Coleman, Erin Upjohn Beatson and Hazel Urquhart all graduated from Victoria University this ... Read more…
  13. Scholastic Book Club orders are now open.

    Look out for a Scholastic Book Club brochure coming home this week. Read more…