The Only Thing To Fear Is… Ourselves?
According to a study conducted by the University of Minnesota, researchers have determined that 15 percent of teens – that is, roughly 1 in 7 – believe they are going to die young. Based on a survey of 20,000 youth, researchers believe this drives a high amount of distressed youth into drug use, gang violence and other risky behaviors. This goes against the grain of the old adage that kids believe that they’re “invulnerable” or bulletproof. Moreover, youth of color and low income youth were much more likely than their white peers to believe that they would die young.
The general sense of hopelessness that plagues teenagers can be seen as a red flag. We need to lift each other up, but how do we raise the spirits of our peers? Is there a remedy for hopelessness? Or is the answer in our communities? What do you think?
