The theme for the World Mental Health Day 2023 — Mental health is a universal human right — has been well chosen to raise awareness and drive actions that promote and protect mental health as a basic human right.
While mental health is important at every stage of life —from childhood to adolescence through adulthood —the alarmingly increasing mental health issues in teenagers is the biggest concern today where social media addiction and workplace stress have been blamed as main culprits. It is assumed that engaging on social media can trigger emotions and a feeling of neglect. And, social media platforms are typically designed to be addictive and are often associated with anxiety, depression, and even physical ailments.
Research has also shown that teenagers are getting less sleep and exercise that are crucial for healthy development and all these can collectively create a cognitive havoc like depression, anxiety, and in extreme cases, even suicide.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the national public health agency of the US, mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. Additionally, social media exposure, economic burden and unemployability, calamities, climate change also cause distress, especially in the youth.
Also Read: Treating sleep issues among youngsters at risk of psychosis may improve mental health — Study
At the same time, a biggest paradox that blocks the prevention and support is the lack of proper guidance and anti-stigma efforts.
“The world has evolved over the years adopting the biological model for treatment for mental health problems but it quickly became clear that without advocacy and anti-stigma efforts access to care services becomes challenging,” says Dr Naseer Loza, President of the World Federation for Mental Health.
Therefore, Mental Health Day should be an opportunity to spread awareness about the importance of mental well-being and eradicate stigma around mental health.
As per a World Health Organisation survey one in eight people live with mental illness. However not everyone has access to good mental health care which affects their overall well-being in society, says Vindya V Rai, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Abhaya Neuropsychiatry Hospital, Bangalore.
Experts feel that there is an urgent need to reposition the role of psychiatry and promote public mental health. Besides sprucing the infrastructure for mental health, specific importance should be given to NGOs for mental health services. Multi-sectoral mental health approaches should be tailored for addressing the various loopholes in the delivery of mental health structures.
Gen Z & Workplace
New data has shown how social media use can be damaging especially to the Gen Z—those who were born between 1996 and 2010. The study that was conducted by the McKinsey Health Institute mentioned that Gen Z on an average are more likely to cite negative feelings about social media.
Along with the negative effects of social media, reduced workplace satisfaction and increased work pressure also accounted for the mental health problems among the youth.
Despite the so-called workplace freedom that has been projected by new generation enterprises, a 2022 research report from Cigna International reveals that young people now face higher levels of stress, financial concern and reduced workplace satisfaction.
Around 48 percent of employees aged between 18-34 are looking for a new job within the first 12 months of their employment. The research also showed that over half of all 18-34 year-olds say work feels transactional, and 51 percent of them don’t even feel fully present or engaged in their work.
The Cigna 360 Global Well Being Survey — Exhausted by Work-The Employer Opportunity— shows that while hybrid and flexible work is seen as very important amongst the younger workers, they are also experiencing worrying levels of burnout and concern for the future. Over 97 percent of 18-34 year olds are burned out and 40 percent are worried by the rising costs of living.
The respondents also say that though they are always on with work, many actually struggle to engage with their work and feel it has become purely transactional with no-person interaction. A fifth(20%) say a lack of learning and development opportunities is also causing stress.
Uncertainty about the future is another major concern amongst younger employees with 34 percent of Gen Z citing it as a key stressor compared to 31 percent of Millennials and only 21 percent of those aged over 65. The study surveyed 11,922 people aged 18-65 in 15 countries, including Australia, Belgium, Mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, UAE, UK and the US.
Burnout from workplace stress is at an all-time high since spring 2021, according to new research from Future Forum. Burnout is still on the rise globally, with 42 percent of the workforce reporting it—a slight uptick (2% rise) from the previous quarter and an all-time high since May 2021, when Future Forum first started measuring employee burnout.
The study found that employees who are dissatisfied with their level of flexibility at work are 43 percent more likely to say they feel burned out at work than those who are satisfied with their level of flexibility.
Experts feel that in the era of long online meetings, a good way to help Gen Z would be to make them feel supported. With Gen-Z employees making up the future workforce, it is important for businesses to provide an environment that caters to their needs and provides a way through these challenges. There is a need to educate the managers on mental health and well being.
Mimansa Singh Tanwar, Clinical Psychologist at Fortis National Mental Health Program, agrees that stress and mental health concerns have been increasing given the demands of our work, lifestyle and social pressures that an individual feels.
“Specifically in the age of media, growing recognition and popularity can add to the pressures on ‘self’ to perform and get into the comparative analysis with the others. It can impact their mental health and It is important for organisations to make mental well being as an integral part of their culture. While enhancing the workplace resilience and giving positive and constructive feedback to the young employees, even providing support on other challenging aspects that can affect their mental health should be made part of the workplace mental health.
Awareness sessions should be held within the organisation. Given this year's theme of mental health is a universal right, it is time that every organisation as a stakeholder takes the ownership with empathy and responsibility to include structures that support positive mental health within the workplace.”
Dr Dinika Anand, Clinical Psychologist at BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital, believes that in order to work effectively with Gen Z employees, companies today need to first understand the core principles, ideologies and philosophies of Gen Z as we like to call them.
“Gen Z is a generation that does not fear questioning the status, they are inherently curious, they do not belong to the camp where conformity is naturally expected and will happen. They don't think that respect is something that you get because you're older, these children are very smart, curious and driven. So the kind of workplaces that work for them are the ones where they are treated as individuals who are given the experience of being treated with respect and dignity,” Dr Anand says.
Anand feels that understanding Gen Z and working with Gen Z is essentially important for us as developers, builders, and service providers. “They require convincing, they want to believe in what they're working for and why they're doing — principles, values, ethics, respect, equality, dignity, and balance. If the organisations are able to integrate that then working with them and for them becomes easier.”
Dr. Amitabh Saha, Senior Consultant-Psychiatry, at Mental Health & Behavioural Sciences at Max Hospital, in Vaishali, also feels that managing the Gen Z employees can be challenging, especially for companies that have a traditional approach to business and are slow in adapting to change.
“Regular communication and feedback are essential to keep them motivated and engaged. Positive feedback can work wonders and improve efficiency, while constructive criticism, when necessary, needs to be conveyed tactfully. Mentorship, training, and career growth opportunities are highly valued by Gen Z employees," says Dr Saha.
"Companies should be flexible in accommodating them by offering flexible work arrangements such as remote work or flexible hours. Embracing new technology is also important as Gen Z employees are digital natives and are comfortable with technology,” Dr Saha added.
(Edited by : C H Unnikrishnan)
First Published: Oct 9, 2023 11:46 PM IST
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