“When meaningful face-to-face interaction was suspended, it had a definite impact on developing adolescents.”

Janet Mabie
Spur Ottawa Writer

With the new school year started, many youth are still trying to process the emotional impact of the past two years of restrictions. Not sure where to turn or who to turn to, many are left feeling confused, anxious, and alone.

“Teens need a safe, non-judgmental space to explore and learn about common mental health challenges in adolescence,” says Brandi Spruit, a counselor at Christian Counselling Ottawa (CCO). “[They need] to feel heard and seen, and to realize that, whatever they are facing, they are not alone.”

This fall, CCO is hosting a 10-week online teen support group to do just that. The program runs on Thursdays, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., beginning September 22.

The CCO website explains the program’s goal to “provide a safe space for young people in our region to participate in group counselling tailored to their physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual needs”. The program aims to help them address feelings of isolation and create connections with peers who are facing similar challenges.

“Youth mental health challenges were exacerbated by the pandemic.”

As a group, participants choose the topics to discuss, ranging from communication and feelings, to conflict resolution and how to process grief.

Early in the pandemic, the team at CCO recognized the struggles many teens and their families faced. They began brainstorming ways to meet these needs in an online format.

“Youth mental health challenges were exacerbated by the pandemic,” explains Kerri Guther, CCO’s business director. “Support services were limited, with long wait lists and a lack of direct contact services for teens. If we could help more families through group format, [we felt] it was worth a shot.”

CCO ran their first online group teen counselling program from May to June, 2021. The Zoom format made the program more accessible to teens from all over the city and proved effective to participants.

“It was nice learning with other people my age, and to know that I am not alone,” shares one participant from spring 2021.

“This is a critical time in teen development and forming a sense of self through socializing.”

“It allowed me to see different points of view,” another teen adds. “I am now able to be more understanding towards other people.”

A third teen shared with Spur Ottawa how the program taught them ways to cope with anxiety, stress, and bad days. Others found it helpful to talk, express themselves, and know that others relate to them.

“In my opinion, the pandemic has absolutely made direct socializing more challenging for many people,” says Spruit. “This is a critical time in teen development and forming a sense of self through socializing. We see ourselves ‘in the eyes of the other,’ so when meaningful face-to-face interaction was suspended, it had a definite impact on developing adolescents in social contexts. We need to continue to gather them, make efforts to connect, and listen.”