Opposing Views Of Youth Mental Health

It has been suggested that youth mental health problems have increased considerably in recent years. Although it is thought that young people’s health is continually improving in line with historic trends, obesity and mental illness have increased (Eckersley 2011). There are many contrasting views on whether or not young people’s mental health is improving or getting worse in recent years. However, there has been extensive research on youth mental health and this paper will analyse many of them. Firstly, we must pose the question, what is mental? Mental health can be defined as ‘a state of well-being in which the individual recognises their own abilities and is able to cope with the normal daily stressors in life’ (WHO 2005). Another definition

It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices’ (What is Mental Health 2015). This paper will analyse many perspectives on youth mental health in today’s society. Moreover, his paper will argue the point that mental health problems have increased considerably in recent years despite some statistics implying the contrary. Several salient issues will be discussed in relation to youth mental health in this paper such as the conventional view of young people’s health in today’s society, social and cultural changes, media influence and modernisation and globalisation in general. Firstly, this paper will analyse the role that unemployment plays in relation to youth mental health. According to Eckersley, research has shown that most young people who suffer mental illness are in education or employment

However, research shows that mental disorders are increasing among young people in Western society (Eckersley 2011). Collishaw states that there has been an increase in mental health problems (mainly depression and anxiety) recently in Western countries (2010). Eckersley says that there has been a massive increase in psychological problems among young college students; they are five times more likely to suffer from a psychological problem than young people in 1938 did (2011). Furthermore, just because statistics may exclaim that mortality rates among young people are falling, it does not mean that their mental health has improved. For instance, in Australia, 40 young people out of 100,000 die each year and this figure is falling; however, 26,000 out of 100,000 young people suffer from a mental disorder and Eckersley states that this figure has more than likely increased (2011). There is also a widespread concern that childhood depression is increasing. Eckersley states that The Telegraph newspaper published a letter declaring their concern for ‘childhood depression and children’s behavioural and development conditions’ (2011). Some may think mental disorders among young people aren’t as significant as it is not a disease that results in mortality. For instance, Eckersley states that