A comprehensive international study has raised alarm over the rapidly worsening mental health crisis among young people, warning that it poses a serious threat to the social cohesion and economic prosperity of societies worldwide.
The research, published in The Lancet Psychiatry Journal, highlights several key drivers of this surge in mental health problems, including intergenerational inequality, the unchecked influence of social media, insecure employment, and the ongoing climate crisis. These factors have contributed to a dangerous escalation in mental health issues, which have long been a leading concern for youth globally.
“Mental ill health among young people has reached a perilous phase,” the study cautions, reflecting on decades of mounting challenges that have now entered an unprecedented stage of severity.
Led by a team of over 50 experts, including psychologist Prof. Barbara Dooley from University College Dublin, the study is the result of years of meticulous research. It emphasizes the persistent neglect of youth mental health, criticizing the “perverse and self-defeating ambivalence” that society continues to exhibit towards the needs of young people.
The findings reveal that in many countries, the mental health of young people has been steadily deteriorating over the past two decades. This decline has been further exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic and the restrictive measures implemented to contain it, as well as the lingering aftermath of these disruptions.
As societies grapple with these compounding issues, the study serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to address the mental health crisis among the younger generation, or risk severe consequences for the future stability and prosperity of nations.