There is no denying we are more emotionally literate now, yet at the same time, many young people feel a relentless pressure to be perfect, and that can come from multiple sources. So, what’s behind this long-term shift? And more importantly, what can we do as parents and educators to support young people more effectively? Here are some key takeaways from the discussion.
1) High rates of anxiety are not a new phenomenon
There’s no single cause behind rising anxiety levels – it’s a complex picture. While social media and academic pressure are often blamed, The Anxiety Epidemic by Graham Davey, references that studies from the 1990s were already predicting that 30-40% of young people would experience anxiety by the 2010s. This suggests the trend began long before the pandemic or smartphones, and highlights the importance of looking at the bigger picture.
2) How does a community support positive mental health?
It’s tempting to blame the breakdown of communities or a loss of belonging – many young people today lack wider support networks beyond their immediate families. But that’s only part of the picture. We also face anxieties we did not before, including the constant stream of global news, available instantly at our fingertips, which can create overwhelming stress, especially for those without the tools to process it.
3) Anxiety has an evolutionary purpose
Stress and anxiety, in themselves, aren’t always bad – they’ve evolved to protect us. There is even research to suggest that people who show anxious traits are much less likely to die in accidents, as anxiety helps us spot and avoid danger. What’s more, if a natural disaster on the news brings you to tears, that shows empathy and awareness, which are deeply human traits. The challenge comes when those emotions become overwhelming, and people struggle to step back and carry on with everyday life.
4) What can parents do to support the mental health of their children?
One of the keys to supporting young people effectively is strong collaboration between school and home. If we think about it as a triangle, with the child, the school, and the parents each forming one side. For that structure to work, all three sides need to be equally strong and active in terms of communication. If one side is too stretched or disengaged, the whole support system is weakened. This partnership is absolutely vital, though not without its challenges. Schools and parents sometimes see things from different perspectives, but ultimately, we’re all working toward the same goal – helping young people develop the skills they need to navigate the real world.
For the full discussion, take a listen to the latest episode of Principal Catch-Ups with Dr Susan Woodshore.
