While Valentine’s Day is an annual celebration of love and happiness, some teens find it overwhelming. Many teenagers base their self-worth on their relationship status or what they can offer in a relationship. Valentine’s Day can have a strong influence on mental health, affecting teens in both positive and negative ways. While the holiday encourages love and connection, it can also bring feelings of loneliness, pressure, stress, and depression due to social expectations and constant comparison, especially through social media.
2NDFLOOR is an organization that provides confidential support to teens living in New Jersey. They also promote open conversations about healthy relationships and how to prevent teen dating violence. Mrs. Patricia Behrens, a volunteer at 2NDFLOOR, shared why teens should not base their self-worth on a simple holiday, according to wellspringprevention.org.
“Young people use this holiday to define how great their relationships are,” Mrs. Behrens said, according to wellspringprevention.org. “One day in the entire year should not be used as a tool of measure.”
Beyond the added social and emotional pressures of Valentine’s Day, there is also an increase in teen dating violence (TDV) around this time. Studies show that up to 19 percent of teens may experience sexual or physical violence, with even more teens reporting emotional and psychological abuse from their partners. One in three teens in high school relationships will experience some type of dating violence, but only a third of those who experience it will speak out about it, according to wellspringprevention.org.
Dr. Lisa Schwartz, Upper School Psychologist, provided insights into teen mental health leading up to Valentine’s Day. Dr. Schwartz commented on the role that social media plays in how teens can experience Valentine’s Day.
“Social media plays a huge role because it sets up our expectations for how things are supposed to be, not necessarily how they are for most people,” Dr. Schwartz said. “It can be very hard when we always compare ourselves to everyone else, which is not necessarily based in reality.”
Unrealistic ideas about relationships can cause teens to question their self-worth or feel emotionally overwhelmed, according to midcitiespsychaitry.com. By recognizing these emotional challenges and understanding that relationship status does not define a person’s happiness, teens can take steps to protect their mental well-being. To help navigate Valentine’s Day in a healthier way, teens can practice self-care, seek support, and maintain realistic expectations, according to midcitiespsychaitry.com. Dr. Schwartz offered advice for teenagers on Valentine’s Day.
“Teens should focus on the people in their life who love them whether it’s a best friend, grandparent, or even a pet,” Dr. Schwartz said. “Most people have someone who loves them unconditionally and who we can appreciate even if it is not a romantic relationship.”
Featured Image by Tori Kniffen ’28
