Mental health issues of young people have increased in Helsinki according to many indicators. For example, experiences of anxiety and ADHD diagnoses have become more common and the number of young people who receive rehabilitative psychotherapy has grown in the last decade.
Similar developments have been observed not only elsewhere in Finland, but also around the world. A recent research review by the City of Helsinki focuses especially on studying the social factors behind the change based on research literature.
What has caused the increase in young people’s mental health issues?
From the perspective of developmental psychology, youth is a time when people establish their sense of self and identity. The young people of today establish their identity under very different conditions compared to the previous generations. According to studies, the increased number of available choices, the reform of educational structures, the use of social media and the prevailing practices of raising children have increased the pressures and uncertainty that young people face. These in turn manifest as an increase in mental health issues such as anxiety. Girls in particular react to pressure more strongly than boys, which may explain the growing gap between the mental health issues of different genders in recent years.
At the same time, certain global megatrends – climate change, reduced social cohesion and uncertainty about finding employment – have undermined young people’s belief in the future and their satisfaction with life. This also plays its part in the increase in mental health issues.
Increased awareness creates a risk of overinterpretation
Talking about mental health has become more common as a result of the psychologisation of society, meaning that everyday situations and changes are defined through psychological perspectives and terminology. Increased awareness means that people of all age groups can identify their own symptoms better. However, young people can be especially sensitive to this kind of psychologisation, not only due to their identity development phase, but also because they are more vulnerable in the face of the influences and social pressure from their peer group and social media.
In fact, the research literature has brought up the risk of overinterpretation, where mental conditions that are a part of normal life may be interpreted as symptoms that are severe or require treatment. Such interpretations can create a spiral, in which the person may start to avoid situations that are a part of normal everyday life with the result that this avoidance makes them feel worse.
How should preventive measures be targeted to correct the situation?
The article highlights methods that could be used to protect the mental health of young people according to the research literature. Plenty of methods focusing especially on the individual have been identified. However, due to the changed social conditions, the studies increasingly often ask if the measures should focus more on societal structures rather than individual people. In that case, the City and its services also play a major role in protecting mental health. The researchers also recommend that when the subject of the measures is a young adult, listening to what the young people say and strengthening their involvement should be taken into account already in the planning phase of the measure.
Help for the mental well-being of young people
The City of Helsinki and other parties offer many kinds of help with the mental health problems of young people. On the City’s website you can find information on how you can assess your well-being, find ways to feel better and seek the help of a professional, if necessary.
