On my office wall is an autographed copy of Don Henley’s 1989 album, The End of the Innocence. That album’s title track metaphorically addresses the end of childhood and the consequences when “happily ever after fails” and “we’ve been poisoned by these fairytales”. Henley’s meaning is open to interpretation, but because of my ongoing interest in children’s rights I interpret at least part of the song as a plea to protect the innocence of youth.

You may not know that suicide is the second highest cause of death among the 15 to 24 age group, and 20% of those in that group admit to having serious thoughts about taking their own lives. Almost 10% admit having attempted suicide. Between 1946 and 2006 the proportion of male suicides in the 15-24 year age group quadrupled and doubled for females. In case you wondered, the leading cause of death among the 15-24 group is “unintentional injuries” which includes, among other things, deaths resulting from drug abuse.

Research helps us at least begin to understand children’s fears.

• One recent survey found that 71% of children between the ages of seven and twelve are afraid of a “climate crisis” involving environmental change impacting humans and the planet.

• In other research young people between seven and eighteen identified “being threatened with a gun” as one of their top five fears.

• A majority of American teenagers are afraid of possible shootings in their schools.

• Approximately 52% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 believe democracy is failing or in trouble, and 35% think a civil war is possible during their lifetimes.

• Young Americans between the ages of 18 and 22 score higher on levels of loneliness than any other age group. At least 51% of young folks have felt “down, depressed, and hopeless”.

• Finally, children fear war, a legitimate concern since 90% of those dying in contemporary wars are civilians and at least half of those are children.

I could offer more, but you get the idea: young people are more unhappy and afraid than ever, and at least most of their anxiety is rational.

I have a thesis, so bear with me. IT IS OUR FAULT! As adults it is our responsibility to protect children and their best interests, but instead we have created an environment fostering anxiety, anger, fear, disillusionment, and defeatism. America’s youth are more unhappy than ever even though they generally have greater food security, more gadgets for entertainment, more leisure time, etc.

Yes, I’ve read all the psychological explanations for this phenomenon. Drug abuse is higher, people enjoy less real human interaction because of cell phones, popular culture promotes unhealthy values, the education system is broken, yada, yada, yada....

OK. BUT ADULTS ARE RESPONSIBLE! How can we expect children to engage in more productive endeavors when adults refuse to do so? How can we expect children to stay off their cell phones when adults are addicted to them? How can we expect children to feel comfortable going to school when thus far in 2022 alone at least 35 school shootings resulted in death or injury? How can we expect children to believe in a happy future when climate science is ignored, when our nation’s leaders and many adults behave like spoiled brats, when we refuse to create the safest environment possible in their schools, and when attaining wealth takes precedence over helping others?

For more than five years I conducted research on the topic of child abuse and the punishment of those offenders. I finally had to give it up because what I learned honestly made me sick. However, what became crystal clear was that children’s concerns will rarely rise to the level of public policy because children cannot afford to hire lobbyists to represent their interests. That being the case, adults must step up to the plate. WE must create a secure environment and WE must create an environment of hope.

In sum, adults must be adults. We must teach children essential critical thinking skills, we must lead by example, and we must help our children find their places in society, preferably healthy places not dominated by hate and derision. I cannot individually change society, but I can change myself. I can be a better role model for young folks, and that’s something they desperately need from us all.

And, by the way, I have spent my entire career working with young adults and I’m perfectly comfortable knowing they will soon inherit the planet. The fact that so many struggle with the world’s realities means they are aware of those problems, and that’s a good start. I believe they will do a better job solving the problems than has my generation. Our job is to ensure they are prepared for the task ahead.

I hope we have all the website’s bugs worked out (if you receive this it is a good sign!). If so I hope to post at least twice each week. I appreciate you following along.