New research shows mental health problems are surging among the young in Europe. In Britain, 35% of 16-24 year olds are neither employed nor in education, at least a third of those because of mental health issues.
https://www.ft.com/content/4b5d3da2-e8f4-4d1c-a53a-97bb8e9b1439
9 Comments
Submission Statement
I think part of this increase may be down to an increased awareness of mental health issues. Mental health problems that were not understood, or ignored in decades past, are much more clearly seen now.
However, it seems undeniable that life has gotten worse across the Western world for younger generations. Economic independence of any kind is impossible without going into soul-crushing debt first. In many ways, it bears similarity to the indentured servitude of the past. Meanwhile, you get lectured by a generation that grew up with free education, cheap rents, and jobs that were easy to get and could support a whole family.
If much of this is caused by economic factors, will the soon-to-be widespread automation of more of the economy make things better or worse? My guess is that in the short term, they will get worse. Until we arrive at what new economic model follows.
Driving jobs are about to disappear to self-driving autonomous vehicles. They were one of the last refuges of the less educated to have a degree of economic independence, especially for less educated young men. The mental health consequences of that category of job disappearing forever may be enormous.
So it’s 1/3 out of 35% of the male population aged 16-24? That doesn’t seem like a pretty jigh number
Well Labour were voted in but they had to drift to the right to become “electable” for the majority of the British public. And now they’re ushering in austerity 2.0 after 15 years of austerity and cuts to balance the books except it’s going to crush everyone. But the UK isn’t unique in this regard, nearly every Western government that’s voted in is neoliberal and functions to prey on the most vulnerable in society, rob ordinary people and transfer their wealth to their cronies under the aegis of “The State”. So quelle surprise that people have mental health issues when it’s the usual suspects of crooks and con-artists repeatedly robbing the public purse. Is it the OAP vote? The right wing I’m alright Jack vote? The fact that not enough people vote? I don’t know but you look at voting patterns among the public and they drift towards centre right or far right meaning society as a whole suffers, ergo mental health issues.
Edit: Just look at those FT comments! It’s like they’re all from clones of the same boomer with a massive chip on his shoulder. There’s your problem (granted they may be anywhere from 35-75 but you get the idea). These fuckers unfortunately go out and vote against everyone’s interests including their own.
Hard paywall for me. Anyone know a good bypass for ft.com ?
Answered my own question
https://archive.is/2024.10.10-063707/https://www.ft.com/content/4b5d3da2-e8f4-4d1c-a53a-97bb8e9b1439
There is no future in this capitalistic hell. Fucking slaves breathing in microplastics, not giving a fuck about eachother anymore.
So for the UK in particular, austerity, financial insecurity and blatant demonization of benefit claimants are significant contributors to worsening mental health. The most vulnerable in society have been the scapegoat for a very long time. That isn’t changing under Labour and is arguably about to get worse.
The Department for Work and Pensions has not been fit for purpose in decades. Millions more is lost to unclaimed benefits and clerical errors than is lost via fraud. Yet restrictions and penalties continue to get harsher for those who are struggling.
Add onto this an horrendous housing market, insanely high costs for food, electric, gas, heating, etc. There’s no wonder there’s a mental health crisis. Then you have the NHS being on its knees. Therapy taking months if not years to get started. GP appointments being almost useless and dentistry appointments being virtually impossible to get. The job market isn’t great either.
The UK has been in austerity overload since 2008. There’s an entire generation that has known nothing but austerity.
This is without mentioning the general government corruption (bribes, gifts, PPE contracts, etc.).
Welcome to places with too much illegal immigration.
Honestly the UK is depressing as hell nowadays. Weather is terrible, curriculum in schools has had a lot of the joy sucked out of it, pandemic has created an anxious generation impacted in their formative years lacking social skills. Student loans are exorbitant and not enough to cover living costs forcing lots of students to work the equivalent of a full-time job, housing is exorbitant too. Graduate salaries have not risen in 10 years. Austerity has made loads of public services essentially non-functional. Brexit has negatively impacted the economy and taken away a route to get out of the UK. Honestly it doesn’t feel like this country has a future and Labour is currently squandering a golden opportunity for a reset.
I wonder what they are being fed – kelloggs and other processed junk? Nah, we’re probably just more aware of MIs. Feed the brain trash – it becomes trash.