The Mental Health-Sex Ed Connection

In addition to post-April flowers, May is the perfect time to increase our focus on wellness. This imperative aligns with Mental Health Awareness Month, which has been acknowledged in the United States since 1949. Children today are surrounded by technology, information, and opportunities that amaze— and sometimes scare —those of us from previous generations. Unfortunately, these advances coincide with new challenges, dangers, and realities that contribute to what U.S. Surgeon General and other thought leaders have called a post-COVID childhood “mental health crisis.” While the connection between comprehensive sex education and mental health might not be intuitive to everyone, there is a definite link between these essential endeavors. 

Mental health refers to our emotional, social, and mental state of well-being. Affecting how we feel, act, and think, it is a foundational contributor to one’s ability to succeed and thrive in all aspects of life. Similarly, More Than Sex-Ed (MTSE) and related organizations promote a healthier world by creating space for cognitively-congruent, illuminating, affirming, and research-based conversations about human development and sexuality. The case for the interconnectedness between these two topics can be made in three central areas: 

Information

While curiosity might have killed the cat, comprehensive sex education and human development instruction send children the message that questions and information are not to be feared. It validates their curiosity about themselves, their bodies, and the world around them, as what author and longtime sex educator Deborah Roffman calls “askable adults” help children grapple with topics and ideas that are not always comfortable to discuss. The environment this creates lends itself to disclosures, queries, and discussions about emotions and mental health rather than a reliance on questionable sources or harmful forms of media. Children must know that no topics, questions, or conversations are off limits with their supportive adults. Further, those who encounter high-quality content commonly depart the experience with a collective sigh of relief and confirmation that tackling topics they once viewed as taboo is “not so bad.” This message fights stigma, removes shame, promotes safety, and lessens the pressure to suffer in silence. 

Identity

Children can greatly benefit from clarity and confidence in who they are and what they value. The confusion that stems from a lack of identity, lack of confidence in one’s identity, or feelings of rejection related to one’s identity are impediments to mental health and factors that contribute to disparity in outcomes among children from marginalized groups. Conversely, sex education encourages us to examine the drives, beliefs, and goals that contribute to the decisions we make each day. With a clearer sense of self, children are better equipped to find support from like-minded peers and organizations as they continue to grow and develop. The community that this creates combats isolation, a common predictor of mental health challenges.  

Empowerment

At its best, sex education empowers children to reject the harmful messages they receive from the world around them, craft a healthy narrative of who they are, seek support from caring adults, and make informed choices in line with their familial and personal values. Conversely, confusion and abandonment give rise to feelings of despair and powerlessness. These outcomes are undoubtedly detrimental to our kids' wellness. Empowered children are more resilient children who will lean into rather than avoid opportunities to explain and explore their emotional and self-care needs. 

A 2020 study by public health professors Dr. Lisa Lieberman and Dr. Eva Goldfarb was the first of its kind in quantifying the positive effects of comprehensive sex education. Among other things, the researchers documented measurable gains in body image, interpersonal relationships, and media literacy. Fortunately, our children live in a world where discussions on wellness and self-care are more common and accepted than in the past. As this work is inextricably linked to mental health, parents and educators alike must continue advocating for comprehensive sex education and human development instruction for the long-term and holistic betterment of our youth, politics be darned.   

Contributed by MTSE Advisory Board member, Justin H. Dove, nationally certified school psychologist (NCSP). Pronouns: he/him