World Mental Health Day: Mental health a major concern among the youth; experts explain why

Citing UNICEF's Changing Childhood Report 2021, India's latest Economic Survey stated that 19 per cent of 15 to 24-year-olds in 21 countries self-reported that they often feel depressed or have little interest in doing things. According to the same UNICEF report, 36 per cent of youngsters reported frequently experiencing worry, anxiety or nervousness. In India, NCERT's Mental Health and Well-being of School Students Survey 2022 showed an increasing prevalence of poor mental health among adolescents, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with 11 per cent of students reporting feeling anxious, 14 per cent feeling extreme emotion and 43 per cent experiencing mood swings.

These numbers point towards a mental health crisis looming over adolescents and young adults in modern society. For the longest time, mental health was a taboo that received neither the attention nor the conversation it deserved. While this social issue persists, the discourse around mental illnesses and challenges has now found a place in more public as well as private spaces.

World Mental Health Day is observed on October 10 every year to highlight the importance of mental well-being and create awareness about challenges and solutions. As the world marks this day, mid-day.com speaks to mental health professionals who share why the youth is increasingly distressed and what can be done to navigate the situation.

Risk factors of mental health challenges among the youth
"The distress among today's youth arises from a complex bundle of multiple factors: academic, social, economic and personal," says Sohini Rohra, a Mumbai-based counselling psychologist, author and mental health advocate.

Dr. Shorouq Motwani, Psychiatrist, Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai, agrees, saying, "The factors causing mental health challenges among youngsters include competitive environment, academic stress, failed relationships, job security and constant worries about the future. These can worsen their mental health leading to stress, depression, anxiety and eating disorders."

While each individual has a unique mental health journey and healing process, experts have noticed some common factors associated with mental health risks among the youth.

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Social media
This is the digital age and everyone, especially the youth, is embracing it. Social media has become an indispensable part of life. Its adverse effects on mental health often find mention in the ‘cons' list of the never-ending debate on its use and benefits.

"These days, people tend to spend more time on social media apps instead of socializing," says Dr. Motwani, adding, "Frequently seeing the glamorous and luxurious lifestyle of others can make them insecure and jealous. They may try to compare their life with what they see on social media and this can worsen their mental health."

Rohra explains further, "Social media sets up unattainable standards of beauty, success and lifestyle, creating a constant comparison and a loss of self-esteem. The illusion of perfection on one side sets up inadequacy on the other."

Highlight other ways in which social media affects the mental health of youngsters, she says, "The stress to get likes, followers and positive validation could trigger anxiety and fear of failure. Cyberbullying remains another serious issue with negative comments and online harassment hurting emotional health and making users feel isolated from the rest of the world."

India's latest Economic Survey also mentioned ‘doomscrolling' and ‘cyberbullying' as key issues concerning the youth's mental health.

Rohra adds, "It can hyper stimulate due to an overload of information creating, fear, anxiety and overthinking about global matters, including politics or climate change."

Academics and career
The recent death of a young employee in Pune reportedly due to excessive work pressure brought to the limelight the massive role of the workplace and work environment in maintaining or deteriorating mental health. The theme of World Mental Health Day is also ‘Mental Health at Work'. In today's highly competitive world, youngsters are often under pressure to excel in academics and build successful careers, which often contributes to stress and anxiety, leading to burnout.

"One may exert oneself and put in extra effort to excel at the workplace. Over time, this can affect mental well-being, leading to workplace exhaustion and burnout. Factors like lack of support or guidance from seniors, demanding work expectations and workplace insecurities can make the youth overwhelmed," states Dr. Motwani.

Workplace stress can lead to further issues, not only mentally but also physically. "It may not only affect their mental health but also their physical health in the long run. A toxic workplace can have long-lasting effects on their heart, which can later lead to chronic stress and anxiety," explains Dr. Motwani.

Stating other mental health challenges at the workplace, Rohra says "Stress and anxiety at the workplace arise from heavy workload, tight timelines, constant evaluation and undue expectations. When one feels a lack of control through the job tasks, and growth opportunities are found to be few, it can cause a great deal of frustration and loss of self-esteem. Severe emotional stress leads to workplace bullying, discrimination, and harassment."

The economic uncertainty due to rising costs of living, students' debt and insecurity within the job adds to anxiety about the future.

Career-related mental health challenges can be alleviated through organisational change and individual support at the workplace. "Supportive colleagues and proactive mental health policies are of utmost importance in mitigating these challenges. Employers who base their appreciation on open communication, and facilitate resources to ensure proper work-life balance can positively impact the mental wellbeing of their employees," says Rohra.

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Relationship problems
Relationships are another major factor influencing the mental health of today's youth. While the entire world is digitally connected, people are lonelier than ever. "The very people who are most connected through social media are reporting feeling lonely and disconnected. The lack of human touch and physical connection has negative effects on overall well-being. At a personal level, the illusion of connectivity in the digital world has weakened relationship ties and increased loneliness," comments Rohra.

"The maturing mind burdened by intense external pressures may find it difficult to manage relationships. Strained relations among family members, peer pressure issues, and relationship conflicts lead to emotional distress and anxiety," she adds.

One or more of these inter-connected factors can lead to low self-esteem, fear of failure, irrational beliefs of perfectionism, unhealthy relationships and isolation. Such issues require professional mental health support, resilience building and genuine relationships. However, the stigma attached to seeking help holds people back from reaching out for help.

Tips to manage mental well-being
Personal, social, organisational and policy changes are required to deal with mental health challenges among the youth. These issues need to be dealt with on a grassroots level. For example, in order to alleviate academic pressure, the education system needs to be redesigned in a way that bolsters less competition and more learning. The mindset of social institutions like families also needs to change, prioritising the child's personal growth over their rank. These systemic changes involve a considerable amount of deliberation and time to deviate from deep-rooted systems and mindsets. However individuals can follow these tips by experts to facilitate mental well-being on a personal level.

Dr. Motwani shares the following tips:
- Social media is not all that you see. There is more than that is shown to you. What looks fun and glamorous while scrolling often hides real-life challenges. Therefore, it is important to do things that truly make you happy.
- If you are going through workplace challenges, you must learn the art of saying no to things or extra work that may not be needed.
- Practising mindfulness by indulging in deep breathing exercises, yoga and meditation can help stay calm and make informed decisions in a stressful situation.

Rohra suggests the following steps to maintain mental well-being:
- It would be helpful to limit the time spent on social media and filter what you do by unfollowing negative or impossible standards.
- Mindfulness practices like mindfulness meditation and deep breathing help minimise stress and promote emotional awareness.
- Physical exercise via sport or other exercises can contribute importantly to an elevated mood.
- Real and meaningful in-person connections with friends and family also develop solid relationships providing essential psychological support.
- Confidence is most likely to emanate from realistic goals achieved through breaking down tasks into manageable steps.
- Pursuing hobbies that bring joy and practising self-compassion by embracing mistakes can further enhance resilience and promote a positive mindset.
- Seeking help from a mental health professional when needed is an important part of the process.

Disclaimer: This information does not replace professional medical advice. Consult a qualified mental health expert for personalised guidance.