It is an understatement to refer to what many young people are going through today as them having mere “mental health issues”.
With the prevalence and distinct patterns that can be observed within western societies, the reality behind these “issues” are a lot more severe than most of us are led to believe.
It does not take much to identify that there is a gradual degradation of mental health standards for young people in society.
According to the World Health Organisation, depression, anxiety, and behavioural disorders are the leading causes of illness in adolescents today. Additionally, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death for those aged 15 to 29.
This begs the question - In a world of abundance, connection, and unparalleled access to healthcare, why is there so much suffering in the minds of young people?
To answer this, all we must do is look at the current landscape of the world and identify the glaring circumstances causing this mental health epidemic.
But first, let’s rewind a few decades and imagine life from the perspective of an adolescent pre-internet and digital technology.
Life was simpler, and it consisted of your immediate surroundings where you saw the same friends, did the same things, and discovered new things progressively as you experienced life.
Learning and discovering new information was natural and bounded by how much you could read, be present in school or glean from the television many had in their living room.
Seeing friends and family meant being in close physical proximity to them, as life before social media meant that social interaction needed to be face-to-face instead of screen-to-screen.
You spent time outdoors, partaking in activities and keeping on the move. But more importantly, the world was vast, and anything outside of your immediate surroundings was not of your concern.
Fast-forward to the present day, and almost none of this exists anymore - Why?
In the U.K., a study demonstrated that most children already possess a smartphone by age 7.
Through this device, they are connected to the world’s vast information network and exposed to the many risks that are found within it.
In the past, a child’s point of contact with this network may have uniquely been through the television, magazines or their parents. But with the advent of the internet, many have continuous access to an unfiltered pool of information that even adults would have difficulty coping with.
Here, threats of cyberbullying, invasions of privacy, pornography, disruptions of reward systems, cyber predators and other nefarious processes have become normal to those present in the digital world.
More importantly, teenagers have had to contend with these threats throughout their crucial developmental years to the point that it has become an integral aspect of their lives.
This is where the problem lies, and it is equally why it is so difficult to fathom as adults.
Essentially, the youth today live in two separate realities - one physical and the other digital.
When we consider this, it becomes clear that many of the mental health struggles of young people today stem from their efforts to cope with this new terrain of dual existence.
Having grown up in a rapidly shifting world, young people have been exposed to the brunt of these new technologies while still being the most vulnerable to them and their implications.
Ultimately, it is our responsibility as adults to support young people in navigating these obstacles and ensuring that we contribute to a positive environment which promotes genuine connection and well-being.
One way to achieve this is to acknowledge and be aware of the stark difference between our lives of the past and the life of young people today.
The reality that young people reside in presents unique challenges that are almost impossible to cope with alone.
At Lions Campus, we want to change this, and create a supportive environment where young people can use the help of others to grow and reclaim agency over their lives.
To be part of their journey through recovery, please visit https://www.lions-campus.co.uk/ to learn more and download our brochure for recovery tips and lessons.
