By: Ayaan Saroori
ayaansaroori8@gmail.com
Increased social isolation and stress among the young generation has fueled different mental illnesses in the society, with a different image. Relations are in strain, work has become a burden and restriction to get-togethers. Nevertheless, parents are unable to spend time with their children, to enquire about their daily routines and they are feeling deaf and dumb and their unspoken thoughts are expressed by severe mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. According to a report, adolescents between 10-17 years are experiencing depression, anxiety and behavioral disorders, globally. Moreover, it mentions the rise in suicide rate among the youngsters of age 15-29 years, which shows a significant increase in the mental illnesses inclding severe life threatning acts such as depression and suicide. These diseases are now diagnosed to ‘one in six people’ of age 10-19 years, and unfortunately, such disorders were rarely identified before. Their sudden increase has been like a wildfire.
The strained relationships between parents and children have become a source of mental havoc to children, especially adolescents. Adolescents are not familiar with family discussions, functions and celebrations which leads to uncollectiveness and inferiority within a family. This gradually increases the chances of mental illnesses within the younger population. For instance, parents often discriminate against the ideas of their children— accepting one child’s idea while rejecting the others— and such behaviour becomes a root cause of anxiety and depression.
Steps Toward Better Mental Health.
Open communication plays an important role for overcoming depression, anxiety and other mental illnesses. By encouraging open-discussions among adolescents, exchanging thoughts and feelings can be proven beneficial to frustrations and can cure mental tensions. Whereas, social relationships and interactions with family, friends and relatives are vital, they are gradually fading over time among youngsters.
Moreover, a healthy lifestyle plays an important role along with inclusion of healthy routines, balanced diet, and adequate sleep cycle. In a dominating technological era, youngsters spend more quality time on their screens and leave exercise, workout aside.The long time spent on screens causes restlessness and frustrations and which indirectly leads to an impact on the brain. Meanwhile, a balanced diet, rich in nutritions plays a vital role in body development along with the brain and endocrine system. Thus, a good quality of sleep with activities — whether meditation, religious prayers or exercises — plays a role in making a robust lifestyle and maintaining an overall well-being.
The young generation fails to manage their routine chores and it causes anxiety, tension and can lead to poor mental health. It helps youngsters to manage work load by setting chores in an arranged way. By organizing work, they can feel less burdened and can access the remaining work. Thus, it’s a personal responsibility to manage work burden and liberty to work without any pressure.Similarly, students fall under the same file to manage stress related to their studies, especially during examination periods. Nevertheless, it requires preparation and a positive mindset, not stress. During the same time, parents should support their children with proper diet and encouragement, but children should take each academic step in a calm manner, prevailed with hard work.
However, unfortunately, such issues are still on rise with a significant impact on the young population. It is a tough time, where one in six adolescents are being adversely affected by mental illnesses. It requires bridging the communication gap between parents and developing healthy relationships with relatives, neighbours and friends.
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