Mental Health problems becoming worse among the youth: How to make the youth mentally healthy and strong?

 

Mental Health problems becoming worse among the youth: How to make the youth mentally healthy and strong?

The youths are very active, energetic and enthusiastic manpower of a nation. They are pillars of nation's development. Youths are innovative but may suffer from inexperience. Youths are innocence but wrong company may fall them into cruelty. 

Youths have the capacity to take new knowledge and assimilate in new environment. Similarly, they have very inquisitive mind. It's obvious that youths are fragile and delicate so, we must consider about their mental health status.

Mental health problems in youths has become an important issue in today's modern world. There are various risks factors involved in increasing mental health problems among the youths. 

The mental health problems key facts  according to WHO ( World Health Organisation): 

- Globally, one in seven 10-19 years olds experiences a mental disorder, accounting for 13% of the global burden of disease in this age group.

- Depression, anxiety and behavioural disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents.

- Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-19 year olds.

- The consequences of failing to address adolescents mental health conditions extend to adulthood, impairing both physical and mental health and limiting opportunities to lead fulfilling lives as adults.

Main Factors That Play Crucial Role in Youths Mental Health Issue: 

Youths are innovative in mind but may be frustrated with sudden failure. Multiple factors can affect their mental health. Factors that increase youths to stress during adolescence are: 

1. Exploration of identity.

2. Pressure to familiarise with peers.

3. Fear of being fallen in  adversity.

4. Social media influence.

5. Conflict between thoughts and actions.

6. Confusion between reality and dream.

7. Uproar Homely environment.

8. Relationship problems with peers.

9. Domestic violence, civil war and war.

10. Sexual harassments and bullying.

11. Harsh parenting.

12. Severe socioeconomic problems.

13. Stigma, discrimination and fear of exclusion.

14. Lack of access to facilitates.

15. Forced marriage, war affected and minorities background. 

16. Intolerance of stress,fear and anxiety.

17. Divorced and parental conflict at home.

18. Loss of opportunities in  education at school, sports.

19. Loss of supporting members of family or in relationships.

20. Physical and sexual abuse.

21. Feelings of uncertainty, loneliness and grief etc.

Mental health problems has been incredibly increasing among the youths in the world. UNICEF report on The State of the World's Children 2021 illustrates " It is estimated that more than 13% of adolescents globally live with a mental disorders." Even before the pandemic, psychosocial distress and poor mental health afflicted far too many children. In 21 countries, roughly 1 in 5 young people aged 15-24 years olds said they often feel depressed or have little interest in doing things. 

According to report, suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-19 years olds youths. Every year, almost 46, 000 children between the ages of 10-19 end their lives-  about 1 every 11 minutes.

When we give cursory glance at different reports on youths mental health problems, basically the pandemic, civil war, war between the nations, poverty, lack of opportunities, social exclusion has become the concerning issues. The lack of attention towards youths mental health problems has been increasing threat on youths volatile future. Youths mental health is mainly affected by their surroundings and inner circumstances- their experiences with parents and peers as well as how they play, learn and grow.

How to make the youth mentally healthy and strong?

Youths are emotional characters. We must consider about their vulnerability in nature. We can play active role to maintain youths strong mental health by the following ways: 

1. Do regular psychosocial counseling on youths current ongoing problems.

2. Convince them to take everything in positive way.

3. Encourage them to improve mental health status by doing different things like- start new work, eat well, sleep well, avoid alcohol and other drugs.

4. Always keep in touch with youths success and failure both.

5. Arouse the feelings of nearness and proximity.

6. Discourage youths to give up smoking, alcohol, drug and abusive manners.

7. Participate on physical exercises, deep breathing exercises and yoga.

8. Energies youths to involve in social activities and social interaction.

9. Increase involvement in charitable donations and grants.

10. Do regular conversation about their mental health status.

11. Investigate and find out the causes of mental stress among adolescents.

12. Help them to boost their mood.

13. Teach how to tackle against personal and peers problems.

14. Give the moral and spiritual support.

15. Show the value and  ethical standards of life.

16. Make the strongest in financial condition.

17. Prevent physical, emotional and sexual harassments and violence.

18. Teach them how to be kind and generous.

19. Tell them  to take a break from study or work or hanging out.

20. Enroll youths to manage mental health as well as physical health.

21. Stop abusive behaviours on youths and make them to express their mental health problems.

22. Focus on youths overall development program.

23. Show your love, support and care in critical time.

24. Supervise regularly the changeable nature of youths.

25. Never hesitate to do  active communication with them.

26. Try to control their social media involvement and give them knowledge about pros and cons of mass media.

27. Make them understand what is important today, what is possible tomorrow and their potentialites.