Socioeconomic Costs of Mental Illness in Young Adults on the Future
Key Ways To Deal With Them
“How do you run from what is inside your head?” Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) predicts a loss of US$16 trillion in global economic output due to mental ill-health alone.
The 10–24-year-old group of people accounts for a quarter of the world’s population and the number one threat to their health is mental ill-health that affects their well-being and productivity. 50% of mental disorders first emerge before 15 years of age and 75% by 25.
The effects of onset in young people extend across many decades of adult life. Due to a lack of evidence, it does not receive timely intervention. It stays on to take a chronic form and becomes the cause of disability, eventually causing weakness and affecting the economy and society.
Climate change and the pandemic effects are affecting young people in unusual ways. A need for mental health practitioners, policy makers, and other societal factors to account for the complex relationship between climate agency, distress, and mental wellbeing in young people seem inevitable.
Now The Question, What Is Mental Health?
The World Health Organization (WHO) conceptualizes mental health as a “state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community”.
The definition of mental wealth is an individual’s cognitive and emotional abilities that serve as a basis for educational and vocational success, a higher standard of life, and a significant contribution to society. Mental wealth development in young adults has a long-term impact and any disruption can unfold a cycle of poverty, crime and homelessness. Therefore, mental illness in youth affects the community’s social bond and productivity.
The World Economic Forum Survey
The WEF in 2011, surveyed that mental illness is the largest contributor to the loss of gross domestic product(GDP) among all non-communicable diseases. It made up 35% of the global economic burden, with cardiovascular disease (33%), cancer (18%) and diabetes (4%) that followed.
In 2022, the survey displays a different scenario prevailing across the world. The pandemic, followed by effects of climate change experienced globally on a day to day basis has a huge impact on the well being of society as a whole. Mental wellness stands as a second priority to be addressed post pandemic.
Addressing The Elephant In The Room
One sureshot way to lessen the socioeconomic impact of mental disorders is early detection and diagnosis and can be taken further from here.
Failure to take timely measures costs heavily on economies and governments. Policies need to support and fund mental health.
One can analyze the return on investment to see how it reaps compound benefits, reducing the factor of negligence and inaction at the appropriate time.
WHO in 2019 called for investing in mental health care globally, and in 2021 American Academy of Paediatrics declared this a national emergency. Though such callouts are commendable, more can be done at the root cause.
The limbic regions vital for learning and motivation are more active in youth than in adults and younger children and the brain wiring is more enhanced to perform various cognitive skills that aid decision-making and thrive the working memory. Experiments also show greater resilience in youth than in adults towards change in environment and uncertainty. Hence they seem to be more of risk-takers and “let’s find out what happens,” types.
Psychiatrists, pediatricians, policy-makers, parents and schools will benefit by using these findings to influence mental health and other aspects of their life.
Mental Health and the Workplace
Employment prospects are rapidly evolving and young people are facing one of the most disruptive changes in the workforce, owing to economic developments in globalization, automation and collaboration.
A whopping 70% of youngsters are entering the work arena at present in careers that are most likely to go obsolete or transform radically in a decade.
Labour casualization is making the young workforce highly insecure and inequality is spiking globally, more so during the pandemic.
The job market of premium will place a high incentive on skilled labor, which means educational success and job-based skills will be crucial.
Heavy investments are made in nurturing young people right from birth until they reach a productive age. If this tenure in their life is disturbed due to setbacks, disability or fatality, or even if they fail to reach their potential and underachieve, it indicates a serious loss of productivity.
The period of emerging adulthood is proven to be crucial for “mental wealth” socioeconomically.
Ways To Develop Mental Health in Adolescents/Young adults
- Healthy ways to channel motivation, and emotion to explore the world around them can be done with school-based extracurricular activities, special-interest clubs and sports, or community-based activities, such as volunteering in social-service agencies. Community service benefits if they are acknowledged and recorded by the youth in journals or diaries.
- Youngsters feel a sense of achievement and pride, says a survey on developmental psychology. They are concerned about their status/identity in the world among peers, and how factors like ethnicity and economic background shape their level in society, exploring to play a part in society through their jobs, families and activities.
3. Helping through family chores or financially, volunteering in the community, and being an emotional support to friends have been shown to accelerate mental well-being.
4. Positive parenting — supportive parents or other carers have indicated maturity in the amygdala, the brain region that regulates emotions.
5. Interventions to improve communication in the family, to foster positive relationships among family members/carers, have reduced substance abuse significantly.
6. Extracurricular activities and sports engagement and proper and trusted mentorship especially for the homeless or those from unstable home environments, profit young adults.
7. The most crucial factor that cannot be refuted for its effectiveness is sufficient sleep. Research shows deprivation of sleep causes a lack of focus, and derangement affects the working memory causing deterioration of brain health in the long run.
Workplace Factors That Negatively Affect Mental Health
- Low self-esteem and a negative body image can lead to anxiety or depression.
- Working under difficult or demanding conditions, lead to stress.
- Not getting enough rest and relaxation, which can lead to mental health issues.
- Experiencing verbal or physical abuse on the job.
- Having to work in a hostile and unpleasant environment.
Ways Managers Can Support Employees’ Mental Health
- Make sure mental health is included in employee orientation and training.
- Encourage employees to reach out for support when they feel overwhelmed or stressed.
3. Make it easy for employees to report concerns about their mental health or well-being, through formal channels like HR or informal channels like team leaders and peers.
4. Set a positive example by displaying a positive attitude toward mental health.
5. Teach them to recognize warning signs and if necessary, locate resources or support groups.
6. Inform on a regular basis, of changes and updates to company policy, procedures, and mental health offerings.
7. Follow up on mental health incidents in the workplace to ensure that all parties feel heard and understood.
FAQs
What are some signs of mental deterioration?
Mood swings, changes in eating or drinking habits, withdrawal from friends and family, difficulty concentrating or making decisions, and feelings of hopelessness or isolation are all signs of mental deterioration. If any of these symptoms are noticed, affecting job performance or mental health, it is critical to consult with a professional.
How does one achieve good mental health?
It’s important to have mental health that works for you. Some factors that contribute:
- Feeling good about yourself and your worth is essential for maintaining mental well-being.
- Enjoy life, care for the self and make positive choices without letting others control or impact your feelings.
- Experiencing difficult times can actually strengthen resilience if learned from them and continue to move forward. This means recognizing when something isn’t working for you, accepting it or working on it, around it and no matter what, keep moving on.
You may want to read on the socioeconomic costs of mental illness in young adults on the future.
