As a young person, I am very conscious of the world going on around me and how it is affecting us now, but also how it will affect the future of my generation and the generations to come after us. But is this having a negative effect on my – and that of many others like myself – mental health?
There has been a major increase in mental health disorders over the past 10 years, especially in young people. The Mental Health of Children and Young People Survey, NHS Digital found that disorders in children had increased from 3.9% in 2004 to 5.8% last year. A report published by the BBC stated “it is also clear 21st Century life is taking its toll on some people. Economic uncertainty, social media, the influence of the media and rising expectations of what life should be like have all been suggested as possible causes” when discussing the rise in mental health problems across the country.
There have also been studies that have shown the increasing problem of our climate emergency that we’re facing is influencing anxiety levels with young people. As anxiety increases stress levels and heart rate, this can lead to other health problems such as problems with our hearts. This shows that as the stress of emergency in so many global situations increase, it not only effects and harms our mental health, but our physical health too.
Parents may want to try and shield their young people from this, but that’s not the way to go. We need to work together, not only as a community or even a country but as a planet to do something about these major issues we are facing globally, and help to improve the lives of the people who will come after me and you.
