Teens Losing Their Minds

[Max1]

I am not really sure where else to put this or what to think of it. Since COVID I have had a ton of friends attempt to hurt themselves and a couple that succeeded. Some sent to a mental hospital. I keep hearing that the strain of the COVID isolation has ruined an entire generation of teen girls and that anxiety and depression in us is exploding.

Today there was news that a teen boy shot and killed 17 children and several adults in Texas. A primary school so that means children close in age to my younger sister. It kind of is breaking me down just thinking of it. Last week there was a shooting at a grocery store where 14 people were shot. That was another teen and he supposedly did that because they weren't white. Being mixed race myself that one got me too. I made a terrible mistake and watched the video of it the boy had live streamed and I am just torn apart.

Today's though I can't process. Little kids. Not adults or even teens in my age range but younger grade schoolers. Both by boys only a bit older than me and the age of a lot of my friends and all. I feel terrible for it. Worse for the idea that adults my parents age keep talking about "Losing an entire batch of teens" like we came out of the oven burnt and needed to go in the trash or just written off.

I'm not really sure where I am going with that other than to say that it seems so dark and I worry for kids younger than me. It's shocking to see it going in this direction but.....ugh....fuck it...ok.....they constantly have news about laws to protect kids from this or that and trafficking and drugs but holy crap a lot of us are unhinged from getting dumped on constantly and nobody listening. Now the news is full of people arguing already over gun control laws but nobody saying hey you know maybe we could listen to some of the teens that are so far gone they think they need to kill everyone around them. Mandatory grief counseling. Yikes. More stress.

Maybe just actually try caring? Offering to let us talk to people about stuff without calling police and social workers or whatever? Offer actual help and not just cause us a ton more problems and stress with insane laws or weird restrictions? Shocking thought.

Sorry. I am done ranting for the night.

Very well said. As a father and recent grandfather, I watch the state of your generation and the next and my heart goes out to all of you. All I can do is offer understanding and an ear that will not only listen but actually hear what is being said. As a suicide survivor, I can relate to most, and I always have an open mind. The children are our future be there for them