Wisdom Recovery Squad Applies Ancient Practices to Improve Mental Health

Myakka City, FL – September 27, 2024

The Wisdom Recovery Squad is pioneering an innovative approach to tackling the growing mental health crisis among young people by drawing on ancient practices. Their groundbreaking initiative incorporates a vital, often overlooked tool—listening—into a comprehensive plan aimed at improving mental health and well-being for future generations.

As society grapples with the increasing demands of modern life, our collective knowledge continues to grow, but wisdom often feels lost. This observation, famously captured by poet T.S. Eliot, is resonating in today’s fast-paced world, particularly among young people. According to the U.S. National Alliance on Mental Illness, over 10% of youth in the United States experience debilitating depression, with mental health professionals overwhelmed by the rising need for care. Europe faces a similar crisis, as young people struggle with feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. The Wisdom Recovery Squad believes the solution may lie in the wisdom of our ancient ancestors.

“We are the advanced civilization that science fiction writers dreamed of 50 years ago. So, what happened to Utopia?” asks Linda Eneix, project leader of the Wisdom Recovery Squad. Drawing on the traditions of early human societies, the initiative aims to reintroduce vital practices that foster stronger mental health, community, and self-worth.

Ancient Wisdom, Modern Solutions

A visual representation shared by the Wisdom Recovery Squad illustrates the stark contrast between modern life and that of ancient hunter-gatherer societies. In the modern image, a young boy is isolated, immersed in academic and digital activities. In the ancient image, a child prepares for a communal rite of passage, deeply connected to family, tradition, and purpose. The initiative asks a powerful question: Which child is more likely to grow up happy and healthy?

Eneix explains that a key insight comes from evolutionary anthropology. Hunter-gatherer societies, such as those from the Stone Age, practiced parenting styles that prioritized close bonds, mutual support and hands-on learning, creating resilient and emotionally healthy individuals. The Wisdom Recovery Squad is working to translate these ancient practices into modern mental health strategies.

The project also aims to bring higher significance to the application of Archaeology and Anthropology in the modern world, reviving areas of study that are currently being deemed irrelevant in many quarters. “We have another job to do,” claims Eneix, “Innovation was born in the Stone Age, when hunter-gatherer societies undertook construction of the first monuments of stone. Here was a turning point that brought us directly to where we are today. At a time when fantastic discoveries in Anatolia have already changed the existing dominant theory of human development, our youngsters are getting the message from commercial media that the credit for enormously important achievements of early humankind must go to aliens and lizard magicians.”  Eneix feels strongly that authentic responsible research should not have to compete with unsupported “urban mythology” 

The Science of Sound and Listening

One of the project’s core elements comes from archaeoacoustics—a field that examines sound’s role in ancient human rituals.  Research suggests that ancient populations may have used sound to enhance mood and emotional processing. The Wisdom Recovery Squad plans to integrate these findings into their mental health programs by incorporating sound that reflects these ancient practices.

“Listening was sacred for ancient communities. It spoke to safety, connection, and identity,” says Eneix. “We believe rediscovering the importance of listening, both to others and our surroundings, can significantly improve mental health in our tech-driven world.”

A Plan for Action

The Wisdom Recovery Squad’s campaign is designed to be accessible and engaging, with the goal of reintroducing ancient wisdom to today’s youth in ways that resonate with their modern lives. A free activity handbook and audio-visual resources will be made available to educators, youth group leaders, and childcare professionals to help implement these ideas. The squad is also working on a global public service campaign that combines visuals with an authentic soundscape, paying homage to the wisdom of our ancestors while promoting social skills and self-worth.

The project will be formally presented at the World Neolithic Congress in Sanliurfa, Türkiye, and at the annual meeting of the American Anthropological Association in Tampa, Florida, this November.

Call to Action

The Wisdom Recovery Squad is inviting educators, mental health professionals, and the public to get involved and explore these groundbreaking ideas. As Eneix passionately concludes, “Listening is an active desire to hear. This is where recovery begins.”

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