Worse than you think

However bad you think it is, it seems the younger generation thinks it's even worse.

How about these figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, as reported in The Australian newspaper:

"Just under 40 per cent of 16-24 year-old Australians, 1.1 million people, reported having a mental disorder in 2020-21, That’s far higher than the overall proportions of 21.4 per cent for all Australian adults."

And the figures climb for young females to over 40 per cent. The Australian reports:

"More than four in ten 16-24 year-old females in Australia reported an anxiety condition such as social phobia or panic disorder in that period, around twice the rate as males of the same age."

Australia’s deputy chief medical officer for mental health Ruth Vine says, "There has been increasing levels of distress and anxiety in this cohort that predated Covid, but it has likely been exacerbated by Covid, with issues such as disrupted schooling. Social media is another consideration. It can be good in terms of connection but can also be a harm if it‘s leading to harassing behaviours. And young people are worried about global concerns as well.”

With the world seemingly out to get them, it's time to consider what the youth of this world might actually benefit from experiencing.