A recent report from think tank the Resolution Foundation has found that 34% of young people aged 18-24 within the UK have symptoms of a typical mental disorder – the best rate of any age group.
Mental health problems amongst young individuals are on the rise. An especially stark finding of the report is that 20 years ago, this age group was the least more likely to have a typical mental disorder.
The big query is why. As a psychologist researching young people’s wellbeing, I imagine that young people today face unprecedented pressures to excel academically, professionally and socially. This pressure can manifest in various forms, including academic stress, performance anxiety and fear of failure.
Current societal difficulties, reminiscent of the associated fee of living crisis, can have further exacerbated these issues – as will the lasting impact of isolation and lack of useful life experiences throughout the pandemic.
A latest survey from King’s College London and non-profit research group the Orygen Institute shows that a majority of the UK public thinks that young people today have a worse time finding a job and more difficulty affording things than previous generations.
Markers of success
Globalisation and technological advancements have transformed the job market, splitting jobs more starkly into high- or low-skilled occupations. This has led to greater emphasis on specialised skills and better education.
Educational or profession success – or failure – is now more visible than ever. The rise of social media has intensified the necessity to present an ideal image of success.
Logging right into a social media account invariably brings an announcement about someone being promoted, starting a brand new job, or taking on an exciting opportunity. This can potentially trigger negative feelings, particularly if an adolescent has been struggling to get a job and even an interview.
The King’s College London and Orygen Institute survey found that social media is seen as a key driver in worsening mental health among the many young.
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The curated nature of social media feeds can create unrealistic standards of beauty, success and happiness, resulting in feelings of insecurity and low self-esteem. Increased time online and the pressure to take care of a web based identity might also worsen feelings of inadequacy and isolation.
The pandemic exacerbated these issues by intensifying feelings of social isolation and uncertainty. Organisational closures and physical distancing requirements reduced social contact and support. Research studies report mental health deterioration amongst children and teenagers in consequence of COVID control measures, especially amongst those with preexisting vulnerabilities, reminiscent of socioeconomic drawback, neurodiversity or disability.
A high proportion of young people within the UK imagine that many areas are worse for them in comparison with when their parents were their age; 78% think they’re less in a position to afford things and 76% think mental health has worsened. This has the potential to guide to a way of hopelessness.
If young people view their future as gloomy and feel they’ll do nothing to vary their prospects, they’re less likely to have interaction in tasks and activities that may improve their situation.
Mental health awareness
The King’s College and Orygen Institute survey found that 47% of individuals think mental health problems were just as common amongst young people up to now; they only weren’t identified as such.
Over the past twenty years, there was a growing awareness and acceptance of mental health issues, resulting in greater visibility and discourse. This has helped reduce stigma and improve access to resources. But it has also created latest challenges for young people navigating their mental health.
Increased awareness has empowered young people to hunt help and speak out about their struggles.
On the opposite hand, the best way mental health is discussed has created a way of pressure to seek out ways to be mentally healthy and resilient, with an individual individually responsible for their very own mental wellbeing. This pressure could also be particularly difficult for young people who find themselves scuffling with difficult circumstances and associated mental health issues, resulting in feelings of shame and self-blame.
All these aspects are intertwined and difficult to isolate, meaning there isn’t a easy solution. But my advice to everyone, not only young people, is, attempt to play an energetic part in each area of your life when you’ll be able to, push yourself outside of your comfort zone, and ensure that you rejoice the small wins.