Guiding, Guarding, Growing: The Unsung Roles Behind Youth Wellness

Nobody can deny that youth wellness should be the top priority in each household, school, and hospital. However, children and teens have many unique needs that parents and teachers cannot always tackle alone. Youth wellness entails mental health, physical health, and academic needs, each of which is incredibly important.

No single person can address each aspect of youth wellness with such authority, at least not without struggles. Luckily, it’s easier than ever to find professionals who specialize in specific aspects of youth wellness, from speech disorders to basic medical needs.

Follow along as we highlight 5 unsung roles behind youth wellness.

5 Selfless Professions Based on Youth Wellness

Dedicating your life to guiding and guarding the youth takes a lot of compassion and patience. Sometimes, it entails dealing with harsh realities, like abuse, bullying, substance abuse, and mental health problems.

Whether it be basic medical needs or intervening in mental health crises, we rely on several professionals to guide and guard the youth, such as:

1. Family Nurse Practitioner

Family nurse practitioners (FNPs) help patients from early childhood through adulthood. Because of that, they have a unique perspective on what is best for their patients, starting when they are children. As their patients grow, so too does the relationship with the FNP.

FNPs can monitor, diagnose, and refer their patients to specialists as needed. That includes orthopedic and cardiac specialists, as well as psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners. As primary care providers, FNPs deeply understand their patients’ medical histories and needs.

It’s also important to consider that FNPs are mandated reporters, meaning they must report signs of abuse. This can make a huge difference in a child’s life, especially when they feel unseen while dealing with horrible circumstances. Whether it be diagnosing and treating a physical condition or referring young patients to psychiatrists, FNPs can greatly improve their patients’ well-being.

2. Speech-Language Pathologist

Questions like “What do speech pathologists do?” don’t necessarily have simple answers. After all, speech-language pathologists (SLPs) have a broad range of responsibilities. SLPs help children and adults alike deal with speech, articulation, swallowing, and hearing challenges that may otherwise make life difficult.

Their responsibilities include diagnosing speech, language, and hearing disorders. From there, they develop and teach their patients exercises to help them manage their disorders and challenges. This can ultimately change a child’s life, as communication struggles can negatively impact on your well-being.

The practical point of helping children articulate and understand is essential, but the ways it can impact mental health are invaluable. SLPs can help people feel seen, understood, and valued with exercises, lessons, and even technologies. It’s a selfless profession that helps people overcome and manage challenges while encouraging better outcomes.

3. Forensic Nurse

Sadly, many people suffer abuse and trauma each day, but luckily, many selfless people dedicate their lives to helping them. That includes forensic nurses who care for victims, collect evidence, and collaborate with law enforcement. This often entails working with children and teenagers.

Forensic nurses pair deep medical knowledge and experience with a great understanding of legal processes. They are just as integral to caring for victims as they are to collecting evidence and even testifying in court. In some cases, they must testify on behalf of children who have suffered neglect, abuse, and other traumas.

Young victims need the system on their side, and forensic nurses are among the first line of defense. As a forensic nurse, you can not only treat physical wounds but also try to calm your patients down and provide some emotional relief. Forensic nursing is just as much about helping people on the worst days of their lives as it is about criminal justice.

4. Youth Social Worker

Social workers can choose between many specializations, which dictate the type of people they work with. Youth social workers specialize in helping children and teenagers in schools, clinics, hospitals, and private practices. They help children and teenagers navigate mental health conditions, juvenile crime, family problems, substance abuse, and more.

The nature of the work they do varies based on what kind of help the client needs. For example, a family or school may bring a social worker in to counsel and educate their child on substance abuse and harm reduction. In that case, they can educate the children or teens about the dangers of substance abuse and address the root of the problem.

Youth social workers also help students cope with bullying and sometimes work closely with school administrators and teachers. They can also offer resources, recommend treatment plans, and educate families on what their children are going through. As mandated reporters, they can also report abuse and remove children from dangerous, negative situations.

5. Behavioral Therapist

Many parents and teachers work hard to ensure great outcomes for their children and students. However, caring for and guiding a student dealing with behavioral issues and disorders can be difficult if you don’t specialize in that. That’s where behavioral therapists come in, as they can diagnose and treat children and teens dealing with behavioral issues.

The goal of behavioral therapy is to curb disruptive behavior and help children and teens manage their impulses. Behavioral therapists can also teach children to focus and manage learning disabilities that affect their academic performance. This can make a huge difference in a struggling child’s life and help maximize their potential.

Not only can this help improve their academic performance, but behavioral therapy can also help deal with family life at home. All it takes is a dedicated teacher or parent to recognize that their children can benefit from behavioral therapy.

Youth Wellness Takes a Village

Naturally, children and teenagers rely on adults to care for them and prepare them for their futures. Luckily, children and teens can count on family nurse practitioners, teachers, and behavioral therapists, among others, to care for them. Parents, teachers, and school administrators must closely monitor the youth and refer them to professionals who can ensure the best outcomes.