The Power of Connection: Supporting Youth Wellness in Eastern Connecticut
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What factors or experiences have the most significant influence on shaping a child’s future? We might immediately think of academic achievements, performance on a sports team, or participation in extracurricular activities, all of which can be powerful influences. Yet the most common protective factor for youth resilience is a consistent relationship with at least one loving, supportive parent, caregiver, or other adult. Forming strong connections with family and community members can make a profound impact on a child’s well-being—and that impact can last a lifetime.
The power of human connection is proven. Studies have linked strong social ties and support networks with positive outcomes including better mental and physical health. Feelings of loneliness and isolation, on the other hand, can be tied to increased risks for substance misuse, depression, and suicidality.
With this knowledge, we have an important tool to empower young people—especially as many of them feel caught in a crisis. Record numbers of Connecticut high school students reported feelings of sadness and hopelessness (26%, per SERAC’s 2021-22 School Health Survey), echoing a sentiment coming to the surface across the country. To help our young people thrive, we must prioritize community involvement and meaningful social connections.
Strong Family Relationships Build Resilient Youth
At every stage of a child’s growth and development, strong familial bonds are essential. As the first community a child will experience, their sense of belonging to it—or alienation from it—can shape their sense of self.
Forging youth resilience—a crucial tool for navigating life’s challenges—also begins here. When a family teaches core values, young people learn to make healthy choices. When a family encourages healthy communication, young people learn to express themselves without fear of judgement. And when a family provides steady emotional support, young people develop confidence that can drive them to success. Overall, nurturing environments lead to better emotional well-being and improved mental health outcomes.
Social Bonds Help Young People Thrive
Social wellness is an important facet of our overall well-being. Today, teens and adolescents are used to being connected virtually—and while this can be great for finding others with shared interests, those connections don’t always translate into meaningful relationships in real life.
In-person socializing remains important, even in the digital age. Face-to-face interactions help youth develop essential social skills like empathy, active listening, and conflict resolution. With these skills, young people are better prepared to build genuine, supportive, and satisfying relationships later in life, to succeed in their careers, and to advocate for themselves.
Community Connections Foster Youth Health & Wellness
Beyond their families and friendships, young people also greatly benefit from strong connections within a greater community, whether that’s their own neighborhood, the town at large, or a civic group (such as Scouts or Rotary Club), church or spiritual community, hobby club, or volunteer group.
Community connections can give people a sense of belonging and involvement. For young people in particular, these ties can help them feel safe, supported, and valued. When they find mentorship and guidance outside in the community, young people can gain valuable new perspectives, helping them to develop open minds. And when they participate in community-sponsored activities, young people get to experience the power of collective teamwork as well as:
- Learn new skills.
Local experts to offer lessons in a variety of areas, such as dancing, yoga, cooking and nutrition, and creative arts. - Spend time in nature.
Highlight local hiking trails, organize group nature walks, and explore how town green spaces might be used for gardening projects. - Volunteer.
Offer incentives for youth to get involved for the larger good, from serving meals at a homeless shelter to walking dogs at an animal shelter.
Luckily, there is a growing understanding of the need for abundant health and wellness activities for youth: in SERAC’s 2022 Community Survey, both parents and non-parents of Eastern Connecticut ranked mental health as the most important issue their community is facing.
SERAC’s Wellness Through Connection Festival
At SERAC, supporting wellness and community engagement within Eastern Connecticut is one of our primary initiatives. Last month, we held our first-ever Wellness Through Connection Festival, a free, one-day event in Lebanon, CT. Attendees enjoyed exploring a variety of free wellness services, including chair massages, yoga classes, reiki sessions, line dancing, and financial advising. It was a fun way for us to highlight this important topic while bringing community members together.
Stay tuned for more upcoming events from SERAC!
Share Your Thoughts
SERAC is also currently conducting an anonymous survey to learn about the experiences and feelings of residents in Eastern Connecticut’s 13 rural communities: Ashford, Bozrah, Canterbury, Chaplin, Columbia, Eastford, Franklin, Hampton, Lebanon, Lisbon, Scotland, Sprague, and Union.
If you live in one of these towns, we encourage you to take this survey to share your opinions on your own personal wellness and that of your community.