To ask why there are so many kids with mental health problems?

@noblegiraffe

Of course you’ve hit the nail on the head there.

Why people think it’s just a problem in kids is beyond me. Their parents are miserable as fuck no doubt because they either have shit lives, are living in poverty, working too hard etc etc. Fuck all to do with seretonin and everything to do with society.

@chilledtuesdays

Ahh let me guess. You’re a trained professional? Lol.
Rubbish? Nar, mental health IS fashionable these days, no doubt about it. Only the vanilla kind though. When the shit hits the fan and someone is actually mentally Ill with psychosis or severe suicidal ideation that they end up in hospital, then it’s not definitely not cool or fashionable.

Other than that the whole brain chemical nonsense has been debunked and psychiatry exists mainly to oppress females. You should educate yourself on that and whilst you’re at it, you might discover how racist the whole sector is.

don't even know where to start with this rubbish, so I won't

Yes agree. It's imo a general decline in health in the population of most of the world. Physical health; the body as a whole, not just the mind. That's just one symptom. Poor health passes through generations and then poor diet and stress of all kinds on the body and all the other above factors exacerbate it (hence people harking on about a lack of resilience - it's really true, but it's not all our fault).

People no longer know what good food is. Seed oils in everything are making us all ill (it is SO hard to avoid them now).

Lots of other things too, but the main offender imo is poor gut health (see gut/brain connection).

Exactly right well said.

There are many mental health ‘professionals’ who go into their profession because they have lived experience. There’s this us and them mentality and people look to them like their experts which is complete and utter bollocks and many of them are definitely not right in the head themselves. Everyone ‘in’ the MH profession knows this lol. It’s all just a shitty power dynamic with some really damaged individuals who work within it.

Mental illness is fashionable but not the ‘real and genuine kind’ (where you lose the plot and go through a psychosis) no, no, no that’s not fashionable at all.

@islandofserenity

Thank you 😊

Absolutely spot on @ HeBeaverandShebeaver
I'm a psychologist and I'm shocked at what some "professionals" are saying on this thread.

@fishonabicycle

Bollocks
3 bit years ago we were told a killing virus was coming like some real life Armageddon movie and kids were removed from each other surrounded by shit on social media with only family for company. This went on for two bloody years on and off. School shutting every month for outbreaks. No exams no fun no friends

No wonder many kids are now suffering as are many adults.

Have some compassion in your profession please!

Covid, pressure on children academically, labelling normal feelings as anxiety etc and lack of opportunity to build skills and develop resilience.
I’m a guide leader (girls 10-13) whole point is to make new friends, try new activities, develop skills.
Have had several parents this year trying to insist their child is in a group with their ‘best friend’ Trying to micromanage so child doesn’t experience any upset or inconvenience doesn’t help them learn skills long term.
Children need to practice skills in safe environments. It’s normal to have butterflies in tummy doing a little talk about your hobby age 10.
If they don’t practice and build up they suddenly get to 16 or 18 and don’t have the skills to cope as they’ve never been outside comfort zone.

Agree with many op that it’s a combination of better awareness and openness around MH but that social media and the covid lockdowns and isolation have had a huge impact.

My DS struggled massively during and after lockdown and home learning which resulted in him becoming withdrawn and anxious and missing a lot of school.

Hes 18 now and heading in right direction but it will take a lot of time to get him fully back on track

Masking is what has lead to my Dd becoming very unwell. I’m not sure saying people shouldn’t cry during times of stress is a sensible thing to say.

Wish my Dd did.

The pandemic just escalated a trend. For my two penneth - from personal observation it's multi faceted including less support/supervision at home due to 2 working parents, divorced (or never married) parents, unwillingness of parents to offer firm direction to said children.

Then there's the social media and societal expectations ti be perfect, and extreme version of keeping up with the jonesies.

The pressure for academic success /downgrading of skilled practical jobs as an option, seen as inferior.

Finally a lack of resilience, not being taught to manage expectations from a young age.

Loads to unpick from this and I'm not trained in any way but have you c people struggling, and friends with young people struggling. I don't have solutions either but I see that people more learned than I need to urgently work out how to put this puzzle together

My view is that there is increased awareness, and the pandemic has certainly created new issues or exacerbated existing ones. But people seem a lot less resilient these days. For example on certain TV shows such as Sewing Bee, Glow Up, etc., it's become totally acceptable to cry and have a breakdown when things don't go the way the contestants want them to. It's normal to feel under pressure and get stressed, but how does crying help in those situations? I'm self-employed and don't know if a similar thing happens in the work place, but it's not very professional in my opinion.

fishonabicycle · Today 12:08
I work at a secondary school, and I feel that young people seem to have very little resilience (which we are trying to change here). Also many do not understand that a certain amount of anxiety, stress etc is a normal human condition, and not necessarily something to worry about. Obviously this isn't always the case, but it seems to be quite common”

Did your students have to spend 16 months out of school, as ours did during sixth form, trying to study alone in the attic, at least half of the time without online provision, because of a CEV parent?
Our youngest did: didn’t see anyone but us. I’d say he was resilient as hell while he was going through it. Two years on, he’s paying the price now.

Could you have done that at 17/18? I doubt it.

I work at a secondary school, and I feel that young people seem to have very little resilience (which we are trying to change here). Also many do not understand that a certain amount of anxiety, stress etc is a normal human condition, and not necessarily something to worry about. Obviously this isn't always the case, but it seems to be quite common.

This

Your parents are stressed from having to work two or three jobs. Adult responsibilities look unmanageable. Society seems to be porn soaked. Social media portrays a lifestyle you can only dream of and a huge amount of pressure to conform. Its no wonder teenagers are struggling.

I think most teenagers go through a depressed and anxious stage tbh, I know I did and my peers did too. It isn’t unusual with the hormones and body changes to feel like shite most of the time. I think we’re too quick to stick labels on completely normal feelings.

Who is this aimed at ?

When I was a teenager I was very very shy and became depressed due to lack of friendship etc. I was also an easy target for bullies, being very quiet. No one helped me. I don't really hear about 'shy' teenagers anymore, I suppose they are all called people with social anxiety? I suppose it means they're entitled to help, whereas in my day I just had to get on with it and suffer.

Well I suppose a lack of belief in a higher power may be part of the problem.

I've just had time now to come back to this thread. @WeeWillyWinkie9 , where is your understanding/ compassion?
OP -hope you're ok? Please ignore all the insensitive posts and concentrate on the positive ones.
I've only been posting on Mumsnet for 4 weeks and I'm shocked at some of the nasty, down right horrible replies! Hope you have a good day and take care xx

@Dotjones
Elements of your post are really insulting to those of us that have a teen or child
With Mh issues.

Dont judge us till you have walked in our shoes

Social media. Both from perspective of teens self perception, unrealistic goals etc, but also impacting parents views and expectations of their own kids. The internet is also just a huge echo chamber which i think amplifies anxiety about things like the environment, health issues, the economy etc.

Too much screen time generally

Poor diet

Not enough exercise

Parenting that doesn't impose enough clear boundaries and consequences