Anxiety and Depression in Young People
by Nathan Kupp
Picture this: A twenty-three-year-old woman, let’s call her Anna, is in her senior year in college. In a year, she’ll be out of university and into the ‘real world’ where she expects to land a well-paying job that will kickstart her career. Suddenly, she got wind of news about a fast-spreading virus from Wuhan. She thought it was not a big deal, that is until a few weeks later when governments around the world announced full-scale lockdowns. Her life drastically changes within a span of a few months. Her last year in college would be online, she would barely be outside, and she would be isolated.
Fast forward to her last day in university, and she’s scouring the internet for a job opening. The recession is causing businesses to shut or size down. The future she pictured for herself is becoming blurry and distant. After persevering and working hard to finish college, she finds herself with no job, no prospect, and utterly lost and afraid.
Ideally, mental health issues should be treated with the same urgency as physical issues. In real life, these issues are treated as collateral damage.
As the pandemic recovery starts—or attempts to start—more people are engaging in conversations surrounding mental health, as the challenges of last year highlighted how vital and critical it is to a person’s overall wellbeing. Communities and industries are now realizing how failure to address this can cost a person’s life just as much as physical illnesses can. It is our lifeline; it sets the tone for how a person’s life can play out.
‘Anna’ is not a real person, but her story reflects every young person’s reality. Young professionals are struggling with burn out which has led to anxiety, panic attacks, and depression. Expectations about the future suddenly shifted, and many are finding it difficult to feel secure again.
This endless pursuit of survival can only result in anxiety and depression. The pandemic not only affected the physical health of millions but the mental health of people from all over the world as well. Young people bear the brunt of it as it is them who would need to live with the aftermath for a long time. While the youth should be living with fewer worries and more zest, they are now feeling countless pressures from all sides—from their career, aspirations, family, and the general blind race of life.
Pandemic recovery is only possible if it includes everyone from all social categories. Discussions surrounding mental health should include whether someone has enough resources to access counseling or therapy. Businesses and industries should start looking into sustainable solutions that go beyond profit; solutions that include the wellbeing of their stakeholders.
Making space for mental health is a collective effort—from industries and governments down to communities and social circles, we should all be opting for practices encouraging mental wellness. We need to set boundaries between our professional and personal lives, call for equal access to healthcare, and to make businesses more inclusive and human-centered.
Of course, every person has a unique set of needs and interests that supports their mental health and wellness. Creating a sustainable lifestyle is only the foundation, something that can get us from the ground up. The specifics, or the routine, can differ. Most young people look for different ways to cope.
A study from NYU revealed that daily meditation can significantly decrease anxiety, negative moods, and fatigue. Even just fifteen minutes of meditation showed similar effects as you would on a day of vacation. A study from Carnegie Mellon University also revealed that mindfulness meditation can change your body and brain’s composition, making it healthier, calmer, and more focused.
Athena Wisdom Institute offers programs that emphasize both Sustainability and Individual Health & Well-Being. Our discovery sessions and leadership programs offer lessons that are in line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, and training sessions including Ancient Wisdom from different traditions, alternative frameworks, science, and mindfulness.
Sign up now at Athena-courses.com to learn more about sustainable solutions and holistic practices.
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