CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY FEBRUARY 15, 2023
A NEWLY RELEASED STUDY BY THE CDC FINDS THE PANDEMIC TOOK A HARSH TOLL ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF ESPECIALLY TEENAGE GIRLS. ALMOST 60 PERCENT REPORTED FEELINGS OF PERSISTENT SADNESS OR HOPELESSNESS.
SEXUAL VIOLENCE, SUICIDAL THOUGHTS, SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AFFECTED MANY TEENS, REGARDLESS OF RACE OR ETHNICITY.
THOUGHTS OF SUICIDE WERE TWICE THE NUMBER FOR BOYS.
WHY IS THIS? COULD ANY OF IT BE CONNECTED TO OTHER SURVEYS THAT HAVE SHOWN A DECLINE IN FAITH IN GOD AMONG YOUNGER PEOPLE? ONE MUST HAVE A PURPOSE IN LIFE AND FAITH IN GOD GIVES ANYONE – YOUNG OR OLD – THAT PURPOSE, THAT THEIR LIVES MATTER.
THE FOCUS ON THE SECULAR – IN SCHOOLS, IN THE MEDIA AND IN CULTURE GENERALLY — OFFERS NO PURPOSE. OUR OBSESSION WITH BEAUTY DOESN’T HELP ESPECIALLY TEENAGE GIRLS WITH THEIR SELF-ESTEEM. THE SEXUALIZATION OF THE YOUNG CONTRIBUTES TO A GENERAL FEELING THAT WORTH IS TO BE FOUND ONLY IN SEX. WHEN IT ISN’T, THIS, TOO, CONTRIBUTES TO A GIRL’S SENSE OF WORTHLESSNESS.
THIS IS SOMETHING ESPECIALLY OUR CHURCHES AND PARENTS NEED TO WORK ON. A GIRL IS VALUABLE BECAUSE SHE IS MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE AND JESUS DIED FOR HER. I’M CAL THOMAS.
