Anyone on the internet for more than a minute has seen the memes and TikTok videos of the very dark sense of humor that Millenials and Gen-Z have been making. And there's no question as to why.
Less than half (47%) of Gen Z Americans are thriving in their lives — among the lowest across all generations in the U.S. today and a much lower rate than millennials at the same age. - CNN
And it's not just neurotypical kids either. It's not uncommon for neurodivergent Millenials and Gen-Z to have a lot of passive suicidal ideation. Whether it's because of the pressure to fit into neurotypical norms, feeling shamed for things they can't help, or being blocked out of jobs that don't want to accommodate their needs; the list goes on. One only has to look at the state of the country to know why they're feeling like it'd be best if they just didn't exist
So What Can We Do?
There are many resources out there to help support. One of the biggest ones is the National 24/7 suicide hotline: 988. While they're great for when the thoughts get too big, sometimes all kids need is some support from those around them. And that's where we come in.
It's important to have a discussion with our students about their mental health and well-being. Even just showing them that we're here, present, and willing to listen may be enough to encourage them to open up. And that's the first step into creating a plan to help build a plan to help them out of this slump in their life. Because we all know suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
For More Information
If you like what you see, go to our Teachers Pay Teachers Website, or check us out our shop on our very own T2L & DLS Website! Books are written on a 3rd/4th grade level and include grading sheets, answer keys and parent information letters to comply with federal standards for transition skills. The Teacher’s Manual (sold separately) provides information on program set-up and maintenance along with pre/post-assessments, written ITP (Individual Transition Plan) goals for each book, and parent/student interest inventories.
P.S.
Hey hey~! Another blog written by Tech Support. Sorry if this one felt a bit colder than others; when I was informed that the original blog to post was lost, I decided to write it for myself. This is a subject that's close to my heart, since I've struggled with chronic depression since I was eight years old. And honestly, something as simple as reaching out and listening, being sympathetic (or better yet, empathetic), and just encouraging your loved ones to take the time they need means a lot. I can't tell you how often my mom has pulled me and my siblings off that ledge.
Any help you can provide to your students is more than they had before. And I want to thank all of you for caring about your students and your continued support of my mother and our company. We couldn't do it without you.
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