Kids anxiety MH - society's responsibilities

[Yoollyball]

I've just seen this advert of the tv for WWF adopt a Jaguar.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=NZBjtoncU-s
I guess my radar is up atm as I have teen DDs who I feel are carting a lot of adult level burdens - they've expressed anxiety about brexit, climate change and that is makes them worried.

I know there are issue and this generation will turn out to be crucial but i worry that we are placing way too much on the mental health of young teens. This is a cartoon and obviously aimed at dc.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=NZBjtoncU-s

I just saw the advert on tv and did a google search to look for discussion on it. Totally agree with you - I’m a mother with a little baby and I cried seeing the advert, I wouldn’t like my DC to watch these adverts growing up as they will worry. Obviously it’s an important topic and something needs doing immediately but it’s a very emotive and striking advert. Although I admit I’m no expert on the matter, I’m not sure asking people to sponsor a Jaguar is going to help - the number of families using food banks is rising and given the choice between feeding their family or saving a Jaguar, or buying sustainable toilet roll or the £2.50 mega pack, they’re going to do what’s right for their families first. I don’t think it’s right to ask British families to sort the worlds problems out when it’s corporations who need to fix their production methods and their impact on the environment. E.g clothing companies which sell clothes very cheap, if people can buy something for less money they will, but many clothing companies are placing destroying the environment making fast fashion. Save the children adverts too, and RSPCA - people have their own children to feed and for example I have three rescue cats to feed. My humble opinion is the adverts are targeting the wrong people, they need to go after the big players not the little consumers.

Another note - my 10 year old nephew was getting very anxious about climate change and always asked me questions about it - in the end I told him that when I was his age Diesel cars were meant to be more eco friendly than petrol, there was a drive to use CFC free aerosols. Now we know diesel is worse and in terms of what everyday people can do (recycle waste, buy things second hand on eBay/gumtree, use hybrid/electric cars etc) I told him that we can only do the best we can at the time, based on what researches tell us. I told him not to worry so much and just do what he can to help like turn the light off when he leaves a room and not run the tap when he brushes his teeth.
My parents didn’t let me watch the news as a child so that I didn’t develop anxieties about the worlds issues and I’m so grateful. Naturally I learnt about world issues as I got older but I spent my childhood being happy. Although I did learn some current affairs from Blue Peter and took part in the aluminium recycling fundraiser each year!