Neue Forschungsergebnisse zeigen, dass psychische Gesundheitsprobleme bei jungen Menschen in Europa zunehmen. In Großbritannien sind 35 % der 16- bis 24-Jährigen weder erwerbstätig noch nehmen sie an einer Ausbildung teil, mindestens ein Drittel davon aufgrund psychischer Probleme.

Submission Statement

I think part of this increase may be down to an increased awareness of mental health issues. Mental health problems that were not understood, or ignored in decades past, are much more clearly seen now.

However, it seems undeniable that life has gotten worse across the Western world for younger generations. Economic independence of any kind is impossible without going into soul-crushing debt first. In many ways, it bears similarity to the indentured servitude of the past. Meanwhile, you get lectured by a generation that grew up with free education, cheap rents, and jobs that were easy to get and could support a whole family.

If much of this is caused by economic factors, will the soon-to-be widespread automation of more of the economy make things better or worse? My guess is that in the short term, they will get worse. Until we arrive at what new economic model follows.

Driving jobs are about to disappear to self-driving autonomous vehicles. They were one of the last refuges of the less educated to have a degree of economic independence, especially for less educated young men. The mental health consequences of that category of job disappearing forever may be enormous.

Well Labour were voted in but they had to drift to the right to become “electable” for the majority of the British public. And now they’re ushering in austerity 2.0 after 15 years of austerity and cuts to balance the books except it’s going to crush everyone. But the UK isn’t unique in this regard, nearly every Western government that’s voted in is neoliberal and functions to prey on the most vulnerable in society, rob ordinary people and transfer their wealth to their cronies under the aegis of “The State”. So quelle surprise that people have mental health issues when it’s the usual suspects of crooks and con-artists repeatedly robbing the public purse. Is it the OAP vote? The right wing I’m alright Jack vote? The fact that not enough people vote? I don’t know but you look at voting patterns among the public and they drift towards centre right or far right meaning society as a whole suffers, ergo mental health issues.