Half of youth aged 18 to 25 hide their emotional struggles, survey finds
A survey by organisation Empower finds nearly half of young people aged 18 to 25 do not share their emotional distress with anyone
There is more talk about mental health today than before, but young people living in cities still find it hard to openly share their emotional struggles. This was revealed in a survey conducted by an organisation called Empower under the title "Unpack Your Emotional Baggage".
According to the survey, 49.5 percent of young people aged 18 to 25 do not tell anyone about their problems and struggle with them alone. Only 9.2 percent said they had ever sought help from an expert. The survey was conducted in ten major cities across the country, including Mumbai, and tried to understand stress, emotional distress and coping methods among young people.
The report says 40.9 percent of young people admitted that even when they are not doing well, they tell others that everything is fine. Many young people avoid talking about their feelings, while some try to distract themselves by staying constantly busy. The survey also raised questions about society's attitude towards the struggles of young people. 40.4 percent of young people said the only advice they received during difficult times was to "stay strong".
On the other hand, only 13.6 percent of young people said someone listened to them and supported them without judgement. Women bear the greatest share of emotional stress. Among women who tend to overthink, 60 percent reported this; among those who doubt themselves, 56 percent; and among those troubled by their body shape, 69 percent. Among men, 57 percent said they felt work pressure and 54 percent said they felt insecure about money.
The impact of this emotional distress is also clearly visible in everyday life. 47 percent of young people said they feel irritable, while 36.7 percent said they find it difficult to focus on or enjoy their work. 31.3 percent said their distress also affected their daily functioning. The survey said that raising awareness among young people alone is not enough; they also need a safe environment where they can share their feelings without fear or hesitation and seek help at the right time.
