As young boys mature and begin to develop their own identity and their own ways of relating to the world and people around them, adolescence can be a particularly confusing and difficult period of time. Amongst the swathe of social influences they may encounter – including the increasingly toxic online world of social media today – boys can struggle with questions about how to navigate expressing their own identity, how to relate to peers and adults, how to manage their emotions, and how to develop a clear sense of their own values and belief-systems. They may begin to experiment with different ways of relating to others interpersonally, which in turn, can influence how they see themselves, and their self-esteem.
Research suggests that during this period of dynamic change during early adolescence (12-17 years old), young males are more likely than females to experience a mental disorder, to experience significant behavioural difficulties, and more likely to experience substance use disorders. Young males are also at a higher risk of dying from suicide.
These stark realities highlight the importance of early support for boys and young men. Providing young males with the opportunity to work through changes in their interpersonal relationships, how they see themselves, and how to understand and manage their own feelings and thought processes can be vital. If you feel that your son might benefit from psychological support please reach out – it could provide an opportunity to help them create a secure sense of their own identity, disentangle themselves from the confusing pressure of how to be “masculine”, and develop the capacity to be compassionate and kind with themselves.
Endeavour Wellness provides child counselling services in Kirrawee and Blacktown.
