Give our children a voice

by Gillian Hugo

Children worldwide face crises like malnutrition, poverty, violence, abuse, and neglect daily. In South Africa, high unemployment, the legacy of apartheid, and lack of access to early childhood development programmes compound these issues. For those with access to the internet and various social media platforms, there are increasing online risks like cyberbullying.

A child and adolescent’s environment, health and well-being are related to their mental health. Mental health is formed and developed by psychosocial, political, economic and physical environments. The eradication of sound mental health in our youth is rapid and evident, especially in South Africa. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), “Globally, one in seven 10-19-year-olds experiences a mental disorder, accounting for 15% of the global burden of disease in this age group. Depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among those aged 15–29 years old”. This is problematic not just for today’s youth, but for the future of our society. When children are repeatedly exposed to risk and harm, the effects accumulate over time, causing lasting damage that can reverberate across generations. The WHO continues, “Adolescents with mental health conditions are particularly vulnerable to social exclusion, discrimination, stigma (affecting readiness to seek help), educational difficulties, risk-taking behaviours, physical ill-health and human rights violations.”

Our children need help! But what does this look like, and what can we, as adults, do? Children require a broad spectrum of support. This can be in the form of a mental health professional in extreme cases, to a caring adult who is willing to listen, not judge, discriminate or try to fix the situation. Children thrive on safety and security, and they need relationships and connections. This is easily provided by caregivers, extended family and friends. School counsellors, teachers and clergy can also be effective in providing a platform for children to be heard. A child needs at least five caring adults, other than their parents, who provide opportunities, teach skills, listen to them, and celebrate their achievements.

Children need a voice! They need to be listened to and heard. Their days are spent being spoken to or spoken at. They are expected to listen to parents, caregivers, teachers, and friends. Not many children are given the opportunity to discuss what matters to them and have someone listen intently. This is what spiritual accompaniment with children offers. An ear to hear without judgment and opportunities to notice where God is at work in their lives. And for those “children who have little language for God or knowledge of God, I ask them when or where they have experienced goodness, beauty or truth”. (Lacy Finn Borgo)

As Christians, we know that God loves children and that Jesus often spoke about loving and protecting children, saying, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”. (Matthew 18:3)

Perhaps if we cultivate an attitude of intentional listening to the children in society, allowing children to express their worries and joys, the prevalence of anxiety and mood disorders will start to diminish. Perhaps, too, incidents such as school shootings, gang-related incidents and violent crimes, as shown in the Netflix TV series Adolescence, would no longer be the norm. 

For more information about spiritual accompaniment with children, please contact Gillian Hugo at the Jesuit Institute South Africa: g.hugo@jesuitinstitute.org.za.