In a news release on the US Department of Health and Human Services, the problem of loneliness in US society was described in stark terms. The articles stated, "Even before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, approximately half of U.S. adults reported experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. Disconnection fundamentally affects our mental, physical, and societal health. In fact, loneliness and isolation increase the risk for individuals to develop mental health challenges in their lives, and lacking connection can increase the risk for premature death to levels comparable to smoking daily."
According to ABC News, "Deaths from suicide among youth and young adults have been increasing over the last two decades in the United States, new federal data showed. For those between the ages of 10 and 24, the suicide rate remained stable between 2001 and 2007, around 6.9 per 100,000. From 2011, the rate rose 60% to 11.0 per 100,000 in 2021, according to a report published early Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics."
Bestselling author and award-winning film maker Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein believes loneliness may be a major contributing factor to the recent sharp rise in depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation in young girls. She recently posted a video in which she offers insight and solutions to loneliness.
In that video, Dr. Holstein said in part:
"One of the most painful experiences in the world is loneliness. It can attack at almost any moment in life and is often unexpected. For instance, when I was 20 and went with a girlfriend to Europe I never expected that she would get sick and have to go home suddenly. I would be alone in Copenhagen, knowing no one and having to get back to London by myself to meet up with our flight home in 3 weeks. I found myself going from panic to feelings of being capable in ways I had never imagined.
"Yes, I could talk to strangers and take care of getting money transferred to me at a bank in Copenhagen. Yes, I could get myself to Sweden for a day, having made a new travel friend. Yes, I could get over being sick all one night from some food I ate combined with some beer that maybe I shouldn't have indulged in. Yes, I could find the right overnight train and made it to London and then found the hostel where my friend had made arrangements for us. I could also make it to Scotland where a theatrical festival was taking place and I had some tickets for shows, which of course I planned to see with my friend. And yes I found the home in Edinboro where I was supposed to sleep for 3 nights.
"The truth is that the sudden loss of my companion left me scared and alone but unveiled one of the true lessons of life. Loneliness for most of us is a transient experience that will push our buttons to find new ways of structuring our lives.
"Is there pain? Yes, of course, particularly if there is grief involved also. But most times loneliness is like the call of the wild from some distant new place. The call is saying 'Find me, I'll be your new friend. Find me, I'll be your next job. Find me, I will lead you to new places.'
"However the pandemic left many adolescents suddenly alone and bereft. Year end parties and celebrations and graduations and picnics were replaced with virtual school days and loneliness in one's own home, often with the bedroom door closed.
"Now it is our job, all of us whenever we can, to open the gate to the future, fun and happiness and success that still is out there as beacons of hope for our girls. Just as I was able to walk from panic to attachment to new beginnings and able to see how loneliness can disappear, so can millions of girls find their gateways to new friends, and a more fruitful life. Here are two things you can
* Stay alert to helping to lift the spirits of young people. An invitation to do something fun can banish loneliness quickly.
* Value yourself and realize that you can open the door to a young person's future just by offering your wisdom and kindness and reasonable alternatives, whether it is a good meal in a fun restaurant, or sharing stories and solutions from your own past.
"You can do it. We all have the ability to boost others, we just need to unleash our potential to be helpful, stay alert, share, and be willing to become the earth angels that help young girl combat loneliness. By taking these simple steps, we can help girls build resilience, self-esteem and help them to cope with the challenges of growing up."
The video can be viewed at https://youtu.be/-zvLUcGc9ak.
Dr. Holstein hopes to bring parents, teachers, librarians, grandparents and media together to accomplish one goal: Change in the lives of young people who suffer from anxiety and a growing sense of hopelessness and despair.
Dr. Holstein wraps Positive Psychology concepts in forms of media that young people find engaging, relatable and inspiring. These include:
Four bestselling, award-winning books (perfect for school libraries)
Four self-esteem workbooks for girls 8 and up
Award-winning films and coming of age selfie films
Podcasts
Dedicated websites
Stage plays
A library of articles
Ted-style talks
As a school psychologist and in her private practice, Dr. Holstein has worked with many children and parents, helping them to develop life skills in decision-making, recognition of their own talents, feel more courageous, and helping both kids and parents develop more successful inter-generational skills. Her last book, ‘Conflict and a Bit of Magic’, helps kids build self-esteem though reading the journal of a girl, identifying with the girl, and understanding they have more courage and resiliency than they thought they had. The book is based on the experiences of the already famous “girl” from 'The Truth, Diary of a Gutsy Tween' and 'Secrets, Diary of a Gutsy Teen', and achieved bestseller status in the multi-generational families category.
Dr. Holstein’s latest workbook for kids, ‘Secrets’ achieved bestseller status in the ‘Teen & Young Adult Nonfiction on Depression’ category.
Dr. Holstein's cutting-edge presentations, most recently based on the Covid-19 pandemic issues, can be found on both YouTube, Vimeo and on the Roku channel and Amazon Fire TV, titled as 'The Enchanted Self Presents'.
Dr. Holstein recently created The Selfie Showcase, a new project emerging from The Selfie Project, that allows young people to voice their opinions on subjects that matter to young people, including the pandemic.
The Selfie Showcase allows kids, teens, and young adults ages 13 to 18 to candidly express their concerns, worries, observations and possible solutions by creating selfie videos or films around important subjects using a smartphone. Dr. Holstein's mission is to help rectify, in several ways, some issues young people face by giving them a chance to engage with others in meaningful ways about the anxiety and stress they must grapple with constantly.
Dr. Holstein is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below or by email at barbara.holstein@gmail.com. ‘Seven Ways To Help Your Family Recover From The Pandemic’ is available at Amazon. More information about the Selfie Showcase is available at http://www.selfiefilmmakers.com. Selfie videos and selfie films can be uploaded at the site. Potential podcast guests can contact Dr. Holstein by email. More information is available at her primary website at http://www.enchantedself.com.
Profile:
Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein, internationally known Positive Psychologist is the creator of The Enchanted Self ®, a positive psychology method for happiness and a pioneer in Selfies as Film. Dr. Holstein's Enchanted Self website was included as one of the best websites in positive psychology. She is in private practice in Long Branch, New Jersey with her husband, Dr. Russell M. Holstein.
Dr. Barbara can be found on the web, interviewed, writing articles and posting video 'TED' style talks on Happiness, Positive Psychology, Relationships and Parenting. Her Roku channel is: The Enchanted Self Presents.
She has been a contributor to Your Tango, Heart and Soul, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Honey Good, Cosmopolitan Magazine, Redbook, Real Simple, Women’s World, The Wall Street Journal, Psychcentral.com, Time online, the Today Show and Family Circle Magazine.
Contact:
Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein
170 Morris Ave.,
Long Branch, New Jersey 07740
barbara.holstein@gmail.com
732-571-1200
http://www.enchantedself.com
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