Miranda Parkinson
Given the events of the last few years, which include (but aren’t limited to) a pandemic, numerous lockdowns, stock market crashes and devastating bushfires, it’s no surprise our mental health has taken a toll.
Take someone asking how you are, for example. We’re a nation of people that reply something like “I’m good, thanks!”, even in situations that are decidedly not good. You know, like parting ways with your wallet on the morning commute, or tripping down a flight of stairs and ending up on your knees quasi-proposing to startled passersby (true story).
Yet I challenge anyone to not know someone that’s struggled. According to research carried out by healthcare society Benenden Health, poor mental health is now the most common medical complaint in the UK.
They found that 19% of 16-24 year olds and 21% of 25-35 year olds have suffered from mental illnesses like anxiety and depression over the last two years. That’s roughly one in five of us. The older generations weren’t far behind, although they were less likely to speak up when they were struggling, with many fearing the perceived stigma surrounding mental health.
As it becomes a more widely discussed topic, especially for the younger generations, it’s important to think of age groups that don’t have the same resources at their disposal. I’ve lost count of the times where a single Tweet has managed to perfectly encapsulate what I’m feeling, or when a thirty-second TikTok has made me feel less alone.
As young people, we’re connected to others in a different way than our elders. We have an openness, especially online, that allows us to share our experiences and have conversations that would have been unthinkable not that long ago.
The survey by Benenden Health also found that people were worried about the repercussions speaking up would have on their employment. Would they be perceived differently if others knew they were struggling? Would they be gossiped about? Would they lose their job? They were more concerned about poor mental wellbeing than other illnesses.
We’ve made huge leaps in battling stigmas and breaking down barriers, but it’s clear we still have a long way to go. When Olympian Simone Biles withdrew from the team gymnastics final at the Toyko Olympics earlier this year, she cited mental health concerns as the reason. Vicious backlash ensued.
If we’re to tackle this crisis, communication is key – and reactions like that will only hinder progress. We need to create an environment where people can open up about their struggles without fear of judgement. Anything less and we’re letting others, and ourselves, down.
Photo by Verne Ho on Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to the image.
mirandaparkinson
Hi, I’m Miranda. I’m based in London and I love writing about everything to do with lifestyle, entertainment and culture!