BlogMENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS FACED BY THE YOUTH TODAY
MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS FACED BY THE YOUTH TODAY
2025-09-14
In today’s society, one of the biggest arising problems is with the youth;more specifically, their mental health. Expectations are set high for them, which if they don’t accomplish then of course in the eyes of people living there, you’re a disgrace to your family name. But they never take in the fact that the harsh words of them makes those youths go through more than hell. They resort to comfort within social media, friends and people who they think are reliable and trustworthy. So how bad has the mental stability reached of those we call the future of our countries?
Most common issues teens often face is distress and pressure. They are expected to achieve high even though their wish is to do a different thing. And with this inner conflict, they start breaking down. The smallest of sad stories hits them like a truck. They feel the full blow even though it may just be a graze. And with the high hopes unattained, the words they go through or in some cases the physical assault they face leaves them with trauma, depression and anxiety, crushing their spirits of ever achieving anything remotely close to success. Mental health problems can even be broken down into multiple stages, the first few being disappointment, sadness and broken confidence, which later on evolves to depression, low self-esteem and consumption of substances for comfort. They do even crazier acts to get the love they want, the affection they have been seeking that can vary from trying harder or even suicide.‘Risk-taking behaviours can be an unhelpful strategy to cope with emotional difficulties and can severely impact an adolescent’s mental and physical well-being.’
What has been done to address it? Not much, at best the parents just “attempt” to help them and give them better opportunities so that they don’t go on to commit an act of violence like the ones mentioned above. But there is so much to be done. Comfort and affection is what they seek most in situations of break down, which therapists are best at. And psychiatrists aren’t that bad of a choice if things do go downhill real slow.
The mental health crisis around today’s youth is fueled by immense societal pressure, academic expectations, emotional neglect, and widespread anxiety, all contributing to unhealthy coping mechanisms (WHO, 2021). There is more awareness today and therapeutic support provides a degree of hope, but we need systemic change, not just systemic awareness; in order to provide diminished stigma, access to mental health resources, and proactive supportive systems so young people don’t “survive,” they can “thrive” (WHO, 2021). The time is now to act, not to just be aware, if we are going to have a future.
References
World Health Organization. (2021). Adolescent mental health. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health
