this post was submitted on 03 Mar 2025
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Mental health crisis ‘means youth is no longer one of happiest times of life’ (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 2 months ago by Powderhorn@beehaw.org to c/news@beehaw.org
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I've no idea how this crisis actually plays out.

This is a crisis. A large crisis. In fact, if you got a moment, it's a twelve-storey crisis with a magnificent entrance hall, carpeting throughout, 24-hour portage, and an enormous sign on the roof, saying 'This Is a Large Crisis'. A large crisis requires a large plan. Get me two pencils and a pair of underpants.

(Blackadder quote from series 4)

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[–] LoamImprovement@beehaw.org 22 points 2 months ago (2 children)

You know, the fucked up thing about it all is I was always told that the kind of delayed gratification that came from major accomplishments like a college degree, a steady career, a comfortable savings account, would all outweigh the fleeting pleasure of parties and stupid little trinkets and other such fun. I wish I had taken so much more time for myself because I burned out so hard achieving some of these things and failing to achieve others that I struggle deeply to imagine a future with me in it.

I hope whatever youth is left in the world spends their time having fun. I hope their lives are worth living now, and that mine will be someday too.

[–] Powderhorn@beehaw.org 10 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I reached peak purchasing power in 2003. It's been regression since. The social contract isn't just broken, it's shredded and burned.

Just adjusting for inflation, I should be making $145K at my experience level from when I started my career. I've never cracked $50K. Meanwhile, costs rose to the point that I'd need to be making $145K to have the sort of life one expects in their mid-40s.

Also, copyeditors are no longer a thing.

[–] jcg@halubilo.social 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

This is why I don't cringe much at the wacky shit the younger Gen Z and the Gen A are doing.

[–] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 2 months ago

the cringe part is them not organizing and resisting

[–] HowAbt2morrow@futurology.today 8 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I don’t remember the word “happy” being relevant when I was teen - late 80s to early 90s - or expecting that hormone driven period to even be that interesting. I understand that my generation had more opportunities to “prosper” but I had to leave my house at 18 yo no question so I also had no choice but to get to it.

[–] hazelnoot@beehaw.org 8 points 2 months ago (3 children)

This isn't just about teens - the article shows that every age under 45 is less happy, and - excluding a brief bump in the late 20s - people just keep getting unhappy as they get older. There's no "it gets better" age to look forward to.

[–] Aggravationstation@feddit.uk 4 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

Right, so "We're all fucked" is the takeaway here.

[–] Powderhorn@beehaw.org 4 points 2 months ago

I'm 45, and never had any financial stability. Sure, journalism wasn't the best field to get into, but I've been laid off so many times in the middle of a lease that I had to drain my 401(k)s each time I had anything saved up. Society is a scam.

[–] sfera@beehaw.org 4 points 2 months ago

Actually, things seem to get better with age, just not as they seemed to be before:

Whereas happiness was once considered to follow a U-shape – with a relatively carefree youth, a tougher middle age and a more comfortable later life – the experts in wellbeing say our satisfaction now rises steadily with age instead.

[–] NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone 5 points 2 months ago

Wait, that was the happy bit?

[–] Megaman_EXE@beehaw.org 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

Idk, my 20's were not great, and my 30's aren't looking too much better but trying to stay positive. The main difference is I'm learning to cope and adjusting my expectations drastically.

I think restructuring cities and communities to be walkable tight-knit environments would certainly help. Give people reasons to interact outside the house. Give people the time to interact outside the house. Help people achieve a purpose and meaning in life instead of feeling like a cog in a wealth machine.

If we're all just struggling to get by, it's no wonder the youth feel despair.

  • this could just be my personal bias showing so idk.

To end this on a happier note, I've been starting to think of ways that I can reduce my footprint and still live as comfortable life as possible. I'm aiming for as low expenses that I can manage, along with working the least amount possible. I just don't really see a point to working my ass off now. I at least have some youth. Might as well enjoy it while I can.

I have no idea how to achieve this yet. But my mindset is there, so I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually.

[–] Powderhorn@beehaw.org 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

My 20s were the pinnacle of my life. Career was taking off, met my first wife ... then the layoffs started in journalism.

[–] Megaman_EXE@beehaw.org 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

That honestly sounds so crazy to me. If I didn't know other people who have had similar experiences, I would say that's a fantasy lol!

[–] Powderhorn@beehaw.org 2 points 2 months ago

I was running a paper at 24 without a degree. You couldn't do that now.

[–] LonelyLarynx@beehaw.org 2 points 2 months ago

I now have a similar mindset, which is a departure from having hope and excitement for the future of humanity when I was young. It feel like, within me, much has been lost. This has a been a transition over the last decade but is really beginning to cement itself.

Like you I have been working to reduce my footprint, as well as reliance on consumerism and that portion of society. Honestly, this has been a successful experience for the most part. I have a lot less "stuff" then my peers, but higher quality and control in the areas that I think matter. I build and maintain as much of what I have has I can. I selfhost my own FOSS services and generally am protected from advertising, narratives, and ways of thinking being forced on me. I quit my job and now work for myself on my own terms. I'm doing ok, and I can ignore many of the societal norms that trap people in day-to-day routines they do not have control over. I have been lucky to be able to do this, though of course there are significant tradeoffs.

The part that is missing for me is finding local communities that support walking, human socialization, and collective support to counter the loneliness that comes from loss of belonging in a hopeful "global" narrative. Unfortunately this generally does not exist in my country and I don't believe it will in my lifetime. If anything we are actively moving in the opposite direction. After decades of trying at home, I am looking elsewhere to find a small likeminded community. This is now my primary focus. It feels like since COVID many people older than me have lost their minds, becoming quick to anger and immune to reason. People younger than me (at least where I live) often appear lost and having given up on trying to address these challenges for themselves: hiding in memes and embracing an even more shallow society. Social media and consumerism are now dangerous weapons and most are still entrapped by them.

All this is to say I believe we are in a time of massive transition. I don't know for sure what the future holds (though the novel 1984 seems relevant) and I am trying to prepare for it to the best of my ability while accepting that I can't prepare for everything and also trying to carve out my own life away from the noise. This is still a work in progress and I very much crave a community to do this with. An online community like Beehaw gives some relief while searching for local community.

[–] melp@beehaw.org 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Did a group of lead poisoned boomers conduct this study? I doubt childhood was consistently ever great for everyone. Abuse was disgusting during the mid* to early 1900s. Pretty sure it was worse before.

[–] Powderhorn@beehaw.org 3 points 2 months ago

I'm not going to dive into what happened to me as a child, as this is an inappropriate space. Let's just say it was still a problem in the '80s.

[–] TimewornTraveler@lemm.ee 2 points 2 months ago

when was being a teen ever the happiest times in life???