“Nights are spent lying awake…dreading the arriving morning. I continue through the day, doing things I am supposed to but I’m not sure if the struggle is worth it in the end?”
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“Nights are spent lying awake…dreading the arriving morning. I continue through the day, doing things I am supposed to but I’m not sure if the struggle is worth it in the end?”
I’ve heard variations of these words from friends over the last few years.
Hopelessness, defeat, loneliness, disinterest, tiredness, anxiety; they've been unfortunate companions for young people like us.
And from what I’ve read and seen, young people everywhere seem to be feeling the impacts. In a recent UNICEF and Gallup survey of 21 countries, roughly 1 in 5 young people aged 15-24, said they often feel depressed or have little interest in doing things.
Young people are living through one of the biggest transformations of all times — the rapid digitization of society. It’s a mass experiment about which we don’t yet fully understand the benefits and consequences.
The omnipresence of technology is constantly opening incredible opportunities for communication, information access, and convenience. But this constant connectivity comes at a cost, and many young people are being exposed to it. Here’s just some of the digital “stressors” that are affecting young people’s mental well-being:
It feels like everyone’s watching - Your mistakes and learning no longer take place in isolation, but in front of the whole world. Everything you post, say, comment, or react to leaves a digital footprint that will forever exist online.
It’s clear we have a big problem.
Young people are overwhelmed and we need the support of decision-makers and governments.
Firstly we need laws and regulations that make reporting hate, scams and online abuse accessible and easy. Likewise, we need regulations and experts’ support to make the online world a healthier, less demanding and less toxic place to be.
Secondly, young people have different perspectives, because we have grown up in a world so different from the worlds that have shaped previous generations. We want to be involved, heard and actively partner to build a liveable future that helps us reach our full potential.
We need those in power to create spaces for young people in decision-making processes that enable us to contribute to policies and initiatives that directly impact our lives and the future of the planet.
This can help us feel more in control of our own lives and futures and feel like our biggest concerns are being addressed.
Lastly, every child, young person and their families need support they can turn to to help them with their mental health.
In South Asia, mental health remains a taboo and lacks investment and support services.
Before COVID-19, a study published in the Indian Journal of Psychiatry (2019) estimated that at least 50 million children and adolescents in my country, India, are affected by mental health issues. Between 80 and 90% of them never seek treatment.
We are living in unprecedented times. We need unprecedented mental health support and services.
This is not a battle of generations, but a cry to save the minds and lives of young people in our new world.
Dear parents, listen to us and hear what we want to say.
We know life is very different from when you were growing up. You faced your unique challenges and you overcame them. We now need you to listen to us and help us through the challenges we are facing.
Little steps in acknowledging the struggles of these times can mean so much.
Share your own struggles with us too. When I was struggling on a particularly stressful day, my father sharing his own story was the only thing that kept me going.
I’ve spoken to many friends battling with struggles who have often wished that their parents could talk with them.
To all the young people out there who are struggling, I stand with you. If there are people in your life who you trust and can talk to, please do so. Things can get better.
Here’s some of the things that have helped me when I’ve felt overwhelmed:
Remember - all is not lost. And we, the young generation, are not ready to give up!
(This article was first published by Unicef, South Asia).