PAST EXHIBITION

July 2022 — December 2023

Teens & Kin

MAELab Exhibition 02

The mental health of young people is inseparable from the families, friendships, and relationships that shape them.

About the Exhibition

Adolescence is one of the most transformative — and most vulnerable — periods of human development. It is when identities form, when relationships with family shift, when social comparison intensifies, and when the foundations of adult mental health are laid.

Teens & Kin explores youth mental health through the lens of relationship — between adolescents and their parents, peers, and inner selves. Drawing on MSC’s research into youth resilience, self-harm, and family dynamics, the exhibition asks what it means to grow up in a high-pressure, hyperconnected world — and what families, schools, and communities can do to support young people through it.

INSIDE THE EXHIBITION

The Pressure Cooker

An immersive installation exploring the invisible pressures that shape adolescent mental health — academic expectations, social media, family dynamics, and the fear of failure. Visitors experience the weight of these pressures through sound, light, and interactive prompts.

What Resilience Looks Like

Drawing on the YEAR Study and the SYRESS resilience scale, this section visualises the protective factors that help young people navigate adversity — self-efficacy, social support, emotional regulation, and a sense of purpose.

Between Parent and Child

Research shows that family relationships are among the strongest predictors of adolescent mental health outcomes. This installation explores how communication, warmth, and boundaries shape the parent-child bond — and what happens when those bonds are strained.

Asking for Help

Stigma, shame, and the fear of being a burden prevent many young people from seeking support. This section offers a candid, compassionate exploration of help-seeking behaviour — and how schools, families, and communities can create environments where asking for help feels safe.

Explore Our Other Exhibitions

Arts, Mindfulness &
The Ageing Brain

Nature's Embrace:
A Gift to the Mind

Exploring the Digital Frontier of Mental Health
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