Parents and community members will have an opportunity to learn more about the effects of social media and technology on youth mental health during an upcoming parent night in Winkler.
The event is being organized by Winkler youth pastors, who are bringing in youth ministry speaker and author Ebonie Davis to share her experience and research on technology, anxiety and how parents can support young people.
Tim Goertzen, a youth pastor in Winkler, said the group is looking forward to welcoming Davis and having conversations about how families can help young people navigate the challenges surrounding mental health and technology.
“She has spent 20-plus years in youth ministry and done a whole bunch of research into social media and tech and its impacts on anxiety,” Goertzen said.
“We’re excited to have her out and talk to parents about what it looks like to help our kids journey through that.”
An important conversation for parents
Goertzen said the topic is increasingly relevant for families and those who work with young people.
While technology has brought many benefits, he said youth leaders are also seeing concerns about its effects on mental health.
Goertzen pointed to changes in local schools, including middle schools banning cellphones and high schools taking a more mixed approach to technology use.
“I think everyone’s kind of noticing that as much as technology has been great on some fronts, that there’s been a negative effect on mental health in a lot of ways,” he said.
He added that bringing in someone with Davis’s experience will provide another perspective on how parents, youth workers and communities can approach those challenges together.
Open to parents and the wider community
Although the event is primarily designed for parents, Goertzen said anyone interested in learning more is welcome to attend.
That includes people who work with youth, community members who support young people and those who may want to become parents in the future.
The evening will approach topics such as anxiety and mental health through the lens of parenting, with an emphasis on helping families better understand what young people are experiencing.
“We’re not checking any credentials at the door,” Goertzen said. “It’s open to everyone.”
Davis brings experience from the youth ministry community and has authored or co-authored several books, including Disrupting Teens with Joy and Grit and Joy.
Goertzen said youth pastors in the area have become familiar with her work through youth leader training events, her writing and opportunities to hear her speak.
He described Davis as knowledgeable and engaging, and said the group is excited to bring her perspective to the community.
Event details
The parent night is scheduled for Thursday, November 5, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Grace Mennonite Church in Winkler, located near Iceberg Drive-In at the end of Pembina Avenue. The presentation will take place on the church’s main floor.
Organizers hope the evening will give parents and others who work with young people an opportunity to learn, ask questions and consider ways to support youth as they navigate social media, technology, anxiety and mental health.
-With files from Alexander Peters
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