STATE — In an ideal world, every child would feel seen, heard, and valued at home and at school.  In the real world, this is not the case. Fortunately, communities have the power to provide a buffer.

The state of Maine uses Mattering – the sense of being seen, heard, and valued – as one measure of well-being in the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey, which is conducted every other year in districts that choose to participate. In the most recent survey, taken in 2019, 41 percent of middle school students and 43 percent of high school students said they don’t feel they matter in their communities. Students in Oxford County felt even less connected, with 43 percent of middle school students and 48 percent of high schoolers saying they don’t feel they matter.

When it comes to mental health issues and diseases of despair, mattering is a protective factor, meaning it can reduce the risk of developing things like substance use disorder, anxiety, and depression.

“Given that Mattering is a protective factor, the statistics are particularly alarming in a state that leads the nation in youth diagnosed with anxiety and where an increasing number of young people report considering suicide,” said Kini-Ana Tinkham, executive director of the Maine Resilience Building Network (MRBN). “Thanks to the isolation and disconnectedness caused by the pandemic, we expect the numbers to be higher when the next survey is given later this year.”

MRBN launched Cultivating Mattering for Maine Youth in response to the data and research that builds a compelling case for the need for communities to ensure that young people feel that they matter. In early 2021, MRBN hosted a statewide series of Community Conversations. Nearly 500 people participated, identifying strategies and approaches that support Mattering.

MRBN released “Building a Culture for Community Resilience: Safe Spaces & Small Acts,” a comprehensive report on the Community Conversations, designed as a starting point for weaving Mattering into the fabric of communities.

A safe space for youth is one created with, by, and for young people. It involves them from the very beginning. Youth are not only offered a seat at the table; they helped design and build the table.

Small acts refer to the words, symbols, and everyday interactions that community members can engage in and highlight to increase a sense of Mattering. From rainbow flags and pins to simple conversations in public places, every community member has a potentially impactful role to play.

Alicia Heyburn, executive director of the Teens to Trails, attended all nine Community Conversations. She says they opened her eyes to the need for fundamental changes within her organization.

“We are developing a youth advisory council. The members will take part in designing or informing all of our program decisions. They will receive a stipend,” she said, citing specific strategies that were suggested during many of the discussions. “We are reviewing the LBGTQ Best Practices for Inclusion guide from OUT Maine, to see how we can improve our programs for this significant segment of our community.”

For work in communities to be sustainable, policies and systems must be in place to support them. With this report, MRBN offers communities and policy makers a starting point to work together to ensure that Maine youth matter.

The full report is available at maineresilience.org/Mattering.