In recent years, teens and young adults have emerged as the loneliest people group on earth. Youth often have little experience with being alone, and their developing brains may not be ready to tolerate the discomfort of feelings that come from perceived isolation. Loneliness is a state of mind not a measure of connectedness, and 4 out of 10 teens say they feel it regularly. Here are some resources to help bridge the gap:
- Articles on teen isolation and loneliness from Newport Academy.
- Understood.org is a guide for a wide range of youth issues.
- TED Talk: “What you don’t know about adolescent loneliness” – Gerine Lodder.
- Teens talk about loneliness, social media isolation and parent attention.
- The uniqueness of adolescent loneliness, potential causes and strategies to combat it.
- “Coping with Loneliness” by Canadian Mental Health.