The case for spiritual wellness in an age of anxious youth

OpinionThe case for spiritual wellness in an age of anxious youth
Mental health requires the cultivation of an inner life: a capacity for meaning, connection and orientation in a shifting world
For most of my career in developmental and educational psychology, I have been guided by a single question: what do children truly need to flourish in the world they are entering? I don’t mean the world their parents inherited or the one textbooks were designed for, but the one unfolding – volatile, technology-saturated and deeply uncertain.
Eight years ago, during my PhD studies at the University of Cambridge, I was certain I was close to finding the answer; I immersed myself in building frameworks for computational thinking and complex problem-solving, convinced that these cognitive capacities formed the backbone of future readiness. Decompose problems. Recognise patterns. Reason algorithmically. If we sharpened young minds with these skills, surely we would prepare them for whatever the future might bring.
I held this belief until the data began to say otherwise.
It took me a while to pinpoint what was missing, but I’ve come to see it as this: spirituality.

Facts Only

Psychologist conducting PhD studies at University of Cambridge
Focus on mental health among youth in uncertain, technology-driven world
Previously focused on computational thinking and complex problem-solving
Now advocates for spiritual wellness as a key element for future readiness

Executive Summary

Developmental and educational psychologist argues for the importance of spiritual wellness in addressing mental health concerns among today's youth. The author, who conducted their PhD studies at the University of Cambridge, previously focused on developing frameworks for computational thinking and problem-solving but now believes that spirituality is a crucial element in preparing young people for an uncertain future.

Full Take

The author presents an argument that spirituality is necessary to help children flourish in the rapidly changing world of today. While they initially believed that cognitive capacities such as computational thinking were sufficient, data indicated otherwise, leading them to consider spirituality as a missing piece. This shift in perspective might invite discussions about how we can cultivate spiritual wellness alongside cognitive skills to foster holistic growth and resilience among young people.
Patterns detected: ARC-0024 Ambiguity (the author does not clearly define what they mean by "spirituality").