As much of the research into the topic of loneliness focuses on the older generations, it would therefore be more beneficial to explore how this affects younger generations as well. This will mean looking at the causes, concerns and experiences of those under 25 years of age, who have at some point in their lives felt loneliness. By researching this demographic, the campaign can focus on an area that has in recent years become worse as a result of cuts to health facilities in the UK. There is a rise in the number of people experiencing mental health issues, particularly among younger people and creating a campaign of this type could suggest ways to combat the issues we face as a society.
The Guardian - Young people’s mental health is a ‘worsening crisis’. Action is needed - Mary O'hara
- 26% of young people have considered suicide at some point in their life. Almost double the amount of this figure with 44% of young people in the LGBTQ community considering suicide.
- 30% fall in the number of hospital bed available to mental health patients since 2009.
- Almost 400,000 people 18 and under are in contact with services for mental health concerns.
Young people feel lonelier than any other age group, largest study into loneliness reveals - Rachel Hosie
- 40% of young people between 16 and 24 say they feel lonely often or very often.
- Experts say young people experience loneliness more intensely than elderly, as they are at a learning stage in their life.
- Those who felt the loneliest report to have the most online only friends.
- There are 5 main characteristics of loneliness, including sadness, having nobody to talk to, feeling disconnected from the world, feeling left out and feeling misunderstood.
It is thought that social media is likely to be a defining factor in the mental health of many young people and that loneliness can be driven by the digital age. It has also been found that women are more likely to avoid reporting the feeling of isolation and loneliness. Illness and unemployment would increase the likeliness of being lonely, as well as people caring for these people.
Why young people are more depressed than ever before - YouTube video
In this video, several suggestions are made as to why there is an increase in the amount of young people feeling depressed. Most of the topics covered evolve around the use of social media among millennials and the effects it can have on our lives.
- Social media approval from peers has made millennials more narcissistic, as we have over the years relied on technology to satisfy our needs. Likes on social media give us a false sense of purpose which releases dopamine and makes us crave more attention.
- Millennials also feel more entitled than the previous generations. This is because we are told from a young age that we are all special and that taking part is what counts. This sense of achievement, through participation makes us feel entitled in later life to promotion in the work place and reward for our efforts.
- Generation X was raised on the notion that in order to receive rewards, they would need to be competitive and hard working to get what they want.
- The average millennial uses their phone over 100 times per day and swipes through it over 3000 times per day. This reinforces the notion that as a generation we are addicted to online interactions and the likes and follows we receive instil a sense of entitlement, which furthermore increases narcissism. Building this expectation and anticipation of likes or follows can be harmful when something we express is not received as well as we would have liked. This can leave us feeling unfulfilled and rejected by our peers as a result, which can in turn make us question our purpose, leaving us feeling depressed.
- This reliance on technology has decreased our social interactions with others face to face in everyday scenarios. This is something that generation X were more familiar with, as they would need to have meaningful conversations with one another so that they could form deep relationships and gather important social skills.
Loneliness explained by people through personal experience (Metro.co.uk findings)
- 'I picked up social activities and worked hard to achieve my goals. This really improved my self-confidence and I have managed to build a new group of understanding friends because of it, not despite it.' - Adam, 25
- ‘For me, loneliness felt – and still sometimes feels – like everyone else was at a party that I wasn’t invited to,’ - Jessica, 28
- ‘It also felt like I was alone in my thoughts and feelings, and that no-one could relate to or understand them, or me.’ - Jessica, 28
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