Youth Mental Health: Education for a Resilient Future
This article is about the urgency around youth mental health (adolescents age 12-19 years old), and what we can do to better manage it, with children prior to the age of 10.
The urgency surrounding youth mental health cannot be overstated. Statistics paint a stark picture from the World health organisation:
- Rates of anxiety and depression among adolescents are significantly elevated compared to previous generations.
- There’s a concerning increase in self-harm behaviours and suicidal thoughts among young people.
- A substantial percentage of adolescents experience diagnosable mental health disorders.
- Many young people report feeling isolated and disconnected, contributing to increased mental health struggles.
- This crisis demands immediate attention and a comprehensive approach to understanding and addressing its root causes.
The Impact of Social Media A significant factor contributing to this crisis is the pervasive influence of social media. While offering connection, it also presents unique challenges for young minds. Constant exposure to curated online personas, cyberbullying, and the pressure to maintain a perfect online image can lead to increased anxiety, depression, and feelings of inadequacy. The constant comparison and the fear of missing out (FOMO) creates an environment where young people are constantly stressed and struggling to manage their emotions. It is crucial to acknowledge this reality, as denial hinders effective solutions. However, a good question to ask is, can technology play a positive role? In this article, I have stated the future direction of mental health care and the role of technology to democratise access.
Focusing on Solvable Problems
Often, we become fixated on high-level, conceptual problems with vague solutions, overlooking the immediate, solvable issues that can yield significant impact. By addressing practical, ground-level concerns, we can create tangible improvements in the lives of young people. This includes providing accessible mental health resources within schools, and training educators in emotional literacy. Focusing on these solvable problems can create a much needed foundation for young people. Mental health programs shouldn’t be a ‘nice-to-have’ but rather fully embedded and prioritised within the curriculum.
The Importance of Emotional Wellbeing Before Academic Achievement
Research consistently demonstrates the critical role of emotional well-being in academic success. A study published in the Journal of Educational Psychology (Durlak et al., 2011) found that social and emotional learning (SEL) programs significantly improved students’ academic performance, behaviour, and emotional well-being. When a child or young person lacks emotional regulation, their nervous system is in a state of heightened arousal, making learning challenging. It’s akin to trying to have the carriage before the horses.
The Role of Education
We must move beyond the industrial-age model of education and embrace a holistic approach that equips young people with the tools they need to navigate the complexities of modern life. Primarily, this starts with emotional education. Prioritising cognitive development at the expense of emotional intelligence is counterproductive. How can we expect children to thrive academically when their emotional foundation is unstable?
To foster resilient and successful young adults, our educational systems must prioritise:
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Emotional Education and Mental Flexibility Equipping students with the skills to understand, manage, and communicate their emotions effectively, both with the self (intrapersonal) and others (interpersonal). Cultivating adaptability and resilience to navigate the ever-changing challenges of the future.
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STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Providing a strong foundation in these disciplines is essential for innovation and problem-solving in a technologically driven world.
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The Environment and Sustainability Educating students about environmental challenges and empowering them to take meaningful action for a sustainable future.
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Creativity and the Arts Prioritising creativity and the arts are the first step in nurturing creative problem-solving and innovative thinking to drive progress and knowledge creation. As technology becomes more efficient at certain tasks, it is important more than ever to leverage human creativity to ask the right questions, and create novel solutions.
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Languages and Humanities Fostering cultural understanding, historical awareness, and critical thinking skills to navigate a diverse and complex world. The study of history can help to understand and prevent the repeating of mistakes.
In conclusion, addressing the urgent crisis in youth mental health requires a fundamental shift in our priorities, starting within our education systems. By embedding emotional well-being alongside academic pursuits and embracing innovative solutions, we can empower young people to navigate the complexities of modern life with resilience and hope for a brighter future.
I would like to hear your thoughts, and is there anything else that is crucial to be prioritised in this space?
Reference Durlak, J. A., Weissberg, R. P., Dymnicki, A. B., Taylor, R. D., & Schellinger, K. B. (2011). The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis of school-based universal interventions. Child Development, 82(1), 405–432. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01564.x
Originally published on lanajaff.com