The action of the miniseries “Teens”, which premiered on Netflix in March and is among the ten most considered streaming platform, has noticed the plot that comes with a 13 -year -old, Jamie Miller (Owen Cooper), accused of violently killed a classmate from school.
Experts point out that productions such as the series can contribute to healthy discussions on difficult topics.
According to Marcos Trati, psychologist, professor and master of clinical psychology from PUC-SP, this type of content offers a unique opportunity for reflection for society as a whole.
“By reflecting reality on the screen, viewers can be aware of their own situations and behaviors. Entertainment can serve as a therapeutic tool and open a safe space for reflection and dialogue about sensitive themes about the reality of young people and families,” says the expert.
Adult’s eyes on teens
One of the guidelines shown on the action that deserves our attention is how adults perceive and relate to young people. This has a direct impact on the youth’s psychological well -being, mainly because many teenagers still cannot express their emotions, feelings and thoughts, according to Torati.
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For the psychologist, the absence of adult competence to understand it can lead to young people feeling abandoned in their suffering, and it is common in these cases to develop symptoms such as boring of personality, self -impairment or antisocial behavior.
“The fragility of the youth’s self, which is still in formation is in an emotional state of dependence on adult opinions and expectations to recognize their value, which directly affects the process of building their self -esteem and identity.”
Doctor João Pedro Wanderley, a psychiatrist at the German hospital Oswaldo Cruz, agrees that one of the points in the series that attracts the most attention is the hierarchy between generations and the difficulty of understanding the language of the other – especially when it involves the digital world.
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“Especially talking about the teens, which is a phase in life where there is a need for acceptance and listening. This communication is sometimes very distanced, either from the teens with the family, the young people with the school themselves and the school with the family,” he comments.
Therefore, the doctor points out, the importance of having an open and transparent dialogue between the three parts.
One way is to include a mental health staff in the school environment to help identify students the first signs of conflict, bullying and emotional liberalization, for example, and refers to help and treatment.
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BullyingSocial networks and misogyny
The series launches a sensitive look at the Young Universe, which addresses topics such as the search for belonging, the challenges of self -esteem and in particular bullying – It goes beyond the physical world and also affects young people in the virtual world.
Production is expanded when small verbal and physical aggression, often trivialized, can leave deep marks, a reflection of what happens in reality for many young people.
Learn more: Why are the “teens” appear in British schools?
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The effects of an average criticism go beyond the school environment and affect self -esteem, academic achievements and mental health in the victims. Many students develop anxiety, depression and in extreme cases have suicidal thoughts.
For Psychopedgue Gleiciane de Oliveira Maziotti, it is important that the school is prepared to identify and intervene in these situations.
“We need a more prepared education that promotes respect and empathy. When the school ignores the problem or treats it as something smaller, it contributes to the violence continues.”
As shown in the Netflix series, the construction of a safe environment involves awareness of students, teachers and guardians. This may include training campaigns, psychological follow -up and the creation of dismissal channels.
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“In addition, the active participation of parents in school life and children’s social networks can be a decisive factor in identifying behavioral changes that indicates that something is wrong,” says psycho educator.
Psychological drama highlights extremely current and often related social issues, such as toxic masculinity and social networks on the formation of young people’s identity.
“The series plays at a central point in social dynamics: the construction of an ideal of masculinity that ignores the boy’s emotional complexity, in a dynamic that dehumanizes them,” points out psychoanalysts and philosopher Ana Matos.
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Ana also points out that the introduction of a model based on strength and emotional suppression results in behavioral patterns that often translate into violence.
This reality is reflected in the numbers. A survey by the Brazilian Institute for Geography and Statistics (IBGE) revealed that about 23% of Brazilian basic students have already suffered bullying. The phenomenon, far from being an isolated problem, is directly linked to cultural patterns that reinforce aggression as an expression of male identity.
“THE bullying It was not born in school. It is a symptom of a social structure that teaches boys to respond violently when they feel insecure, says the psychoanalyst.
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The influence of social networks is also inserted in this context and reinforces the dynamics of exclusion and reinforcing harmful stereotypes. Digital exposure intensifies the need for external validation, which makes the public image more important than emotional well -being.
“The Internet creates a space in which competitiveness and uninterrupted search for approval replaces self -knowledge. This generates a fragile identity, shaped by unrealistic expectations”
But what are the ways to open dialogue and create connections? For psychiatrist João Wanderley, there are tools. One is through a deeper attitude to the routine for children, with specific questions about who is friends, for example instead of just one “how was the school today?”
The psychiatrist also highlights the importance of introducing boundaries, how to prescribe rules and commitments, which can include times to come home, eat, study, do a physical and screen time activity.
It is also critical, emphasizes Wanderley, teaches children and young people to learn how to handle frustration.