Is depression becoming more common in younger age groups? Not really, in fact, feelings of depression and anxiety have always existed and can affect individuals of all genders and ages. The reason why it’s receiving more attention now is due to the increasing level of education among the public, which has led to a growing appreciation for psychology, coupled with the influence of social media, drawing more and more people’s attention.
Decades ago, people had little knowledge about psychology. For instance, if their child stopped talking or suddenly had a change in temperament, it was thought that the child was just being overly sensitive or mischievous, and that the parents weren’t disciplining them properly.
In reality, the child may have experienced unpleasant events at school or elsewhere, leading to emotional suppression and the development of psychological issues. However, the parents may completely overlook this, unable to address the root of the problem, ultimately worsening the situation. Childhood experiences can have a long-lasting impact on an individual, with some injuries being irreparable.
Children nowadays face significant academic pressure, not only from their textbooks and assignments given by teachers but also from participating in various extracurricular classes and tutoring sessions. Knowledge is endless, tasks are countless, and learning and test-taking are skills that require talent and cannot be compensated solely by diligent efforts.
Only a limited number of students can get into good schools due to the low admission rates. If a child performs poorly on an exam, both teachers and parents may feel angry and resort to scolding or physical punishment. This ongoing negative cycle can lead the child to lose interest in learning, resulting in declining grades and a growing aversion to studying.
In addition, their leisure time is restricted, preventing them from going out and adding to their feelings of suppression. Every parent desires academic excellence and success for their child, but setting excessively high expectations can place immense pressure on the child. If a child is outgoing and can talk to friends about problems, they may fare better, but those who are introverted and lack someone to confide in may accumulate internalized issues that can lead to anxiety, depression, and more.
As parents, it’s important to maintain a positive outlook and understand that sometimes giving your best effort is sufficient and there should be no excessive demands. Academic success doesn’t solely depend on scoring a perfect mark; achieving 80% last time and 90% this time is also a considerable accomplishment. It’s also unwise to constantly compare your child with others since each person has their own strengths and weaknesses, rendering comparisons meaningless.
In today’s society, there will always be individuals who excel in certain aspects or are wealthier than you, and changing that might be challenging no matter how hard you strive. Similarly, raising a child also follows this principle – a child’s healthy and happy growth should be the ultimate goal.
