Dr Tasaduk Hussain Itoo
Mental health, for today’s youth, is often understood as feeling happy, managing emotions effectively, coping with stress, and developing a sense of mastery over life’s challenges. Interestingly, these personal perceptions closely align with the scientific understanding of mental well-being. As youth constitute a significant proportion of our population, their mental health deserves urgent and sustained attention.
The period of youth is marked by immense potential, growth, and opportunity, but it is also a phase characterized by vulnerability. Research shows that a large proportion of mental health disorders begin before the age of 30 in current times. Despite this, only a small percentage of young people who need professional support actually seek or receive it. This gap can largely be attributed to lack of awareness, social stigma, hesitation, and limited access to mental health services.
Among college-going youth, several factors contribute to psychological distress. Intense academic competition, career uncertainty, and social pressures often create overwhelming stress. Additionally, the unrealistic expectation of remaining “stress-free” at all times can itself become a source of anxiety, as it does not reflect the inevitable frustrations and setbacks of everyday life. Many young people also struggle to emotionally connect with parents and teachers about the challenges they face, often leading to feelings of isolation and the recurring frustration of “not being understood.”
“Empowering youth with knowledge and support is essential to destigmatizing mental health and building a resilient future generation. This requires a collaborative effort from media, schools, and families to normalize open conversations and prioritize early intervention.”
Urban youth, particularly those migrating from smaller towns to metropolitan cities for higher education, frequently encounter cultural adjustment difficulties, loneliness, and alienation during the early stages of adaptation. At the same time, encouragingly, young people are increasingly recognizing that speaking about mental health does not signify weakness, nor does it automatically imply severe psychological illness. Common concerns for which youth seek help include depression, relationship conflicts, career confusion, social anxiety, and emotional turmoil.
Peers often become the first line of support when young individuals experience emotional distress. This highlights the importance of equipping youth with the skills to support one another responsibly, while also encouraging them to recognize professional mental health care as a valuable complement to peer support. Young people can also play a transformative role in dismantling stigma and fostering a culture of openness around mental health.
Conclusion: Mental health awareness is the need of the hour, and youth engagement is central to this movement. By empowering young people with knowledge, emotional skills, and supportive platforms, society can promote early intervention, reduce stigma, and build a healthier, more resilient generation. The media, educational institutions, families, and mental health professionals must work together to create an environment where conversations about mental health are normalized, encouraged, and acted upon.
(The author is a Physician, Educator and a columnist. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”)
[email protected]
