Mental Health in the 21st Century

With over 25,000 recorded cases of severe mental illness in the North East of England alone, it’s clear to see that our mental wellbeing is more important to us than ever.

The stigma surrounding mental illness is depleting, and open conversation surrounding the topic is much easier and more encouraged.

However, in the age of the internet, we have more access to information than ever, including symptoms and signs. We’re all guilty of googling our symptoms and finding the worst. Self diagnosis can be a real issue – being sad doesn’t mean you necessarily have depression, and nervousness isn’t the same as anxiety.

But it’s easy to try and match our symptoms up, sometimes it’s easier for us to be able to label our reactions to things – rather than understanding that having feelings of anxiety and depression are normal reactions to external circumstances – such as a big presentation, or the death of a loved one.

 

Overall there were 26,683 recorded cases of severe mental illness in the north east region between 2017 and 2018, with thousands upon thousands more suffering with their mental health around the country. 

Young people in particular are feeling the effects, with half of all mental illnesses being established by the age of 14, and one in ten children aged 5 to 16 having a diagnosable condition. prevalence of mental illness has increased significantly since the 1990’s, it’s said that part of this is that we now recognise self-harm in ways we previously haven’t.

The increase we’re seeing could partly be blamed on changing outside factors. Social media can be hugely detrimental to mental health and self-esteem, the media puts an enormous amount of pressure on us to look a certain way, and there’s an ever-changing expectation of what life should be like.

Young people deal with a massive amount of pressure and stress from a young age, with constant testing throughout school. after school the worries continue – choosing whether to go to university or not, finding a job, saving for a house which has become near impossible for the younger generation. There’s not wonder that three quarters of mental illness are in the under 25’s.

Susan Hutchinson is a senior lecturer in Mental Health Nursing at Teesside University, she discusses the issue of mental health in the 21st century: 

Q: Do you think mental illnesses are a “21st Century illness”?

Susan: “Definitely not, but I think we are more aware of them and accepting of people with mental illness, although there is still a long way to go. I do think the way we live today affects our mental health – ie social media from both a positive and negative aspect. Positively, there’s lots of information available and opportunities for well being practices. Negatively, there is too much competition, false identity and living, society is too fast, we don’t have enough time for ourselves as a result of the way we live. Society expectations and competition especially in children and younger people.”

Q: Do you think mental illness is being over-diagnosed?

Susan: “Yes, definitely – medicalisation of life; putting a strain on resources; expectations and people not taking responsibility for their own health and well being.”

Q: Do people self-diagnose themselves with mental illnesses?

Susan: “Definitely, based upon what Dr. Google says – people say they have Bipolar when in fact their moods are just changing throughout the day in response to normal stressors.”

Q: Is the stigma surrounding mental illness decreasing? Why?

Susan: “Yes, due to increase in education and awareness through internet and other forms of media or information sharing, like notices in GP practices and public places.”

Q: Do you think social media is affecting our mental health?

Susan: “Yes, there’s too much time spent on our devices, not enough time socialising and communicating verbally. We have a lack of fresh air, exercise, and general activity. It’s making us sad, and unable to live in the present.”

Looking after our mental health is vital, particularly in times where there is so much pressure to live, look, and be a certain way. If we look after ourselves and one another, hopefully next century will be a lot brighter.