Yes, there is a growing chasm between what young people face, and what is on offer to manage those pressures. Today’s youth has never been under so much stress and anxiety; neither have mental health problems been so high. Indeed, 70% of teens, according to one survey, felt very stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed, with 60% feeling hopeless or sad.

There are many diverse explanations for the pressures on young people. Some of these are explained by:

Academic pressure: The struggle to make it to the best traditions, colleges, and universities, and to perform well in exams, becomes difficult to cope with.
Social media:Projecting a perfect image online, dealing with the FOMO feeling, or cyberbullying issues, all provide means for developing anxiety and low self-esteem.
Family expectations: Living up to parental expectations, family conflicts, and taking up responsibilities at an early age can prove stressful.
The pressure to belong, to fit in, and to face bullies can be overwhelming.
Stigma of mental health: Lack of awareness and understanding about mental health issues makes it very hard for young people to come forward and seek help.
To bridge this chasm that lies between what wrong pressures are faced by the youth and the tools to manage them, some approaches to find remedies are as follows:

Approach 1: Increase Awareness and Education

Integrate mental health education at schools for increased awareness and hence reduced stigma.
Workshops, Seminars, and campaigns can be organized to increase mental health literacy.
Approach 2: Accessible resources
School-based counseling services and hotlines could be instituted for easy access to mental health support.
Developing mobile apps and online platforms providing anonymous support, resource places, and coping strategies
3. Supportive environment
Endorse creative and honest discussions related to mental health within schools, families, and the community.
Educate teachers, parents, and peers on recognising distress and how to help.
Approach 4: Healthy Coping Mechanisms
Teach techniques on the management of stress through mindfulness, meditation, and yoga.
Promote exercise, outdoor activities, and hobbies as a mechanism for reducing stress and improving mood.
Approach 5: Technology
Establish AI chatbots and virtual assistants to immediately provide support and resources.
Establish positive messages and campaigns about mental health through social media.
Approach 6: Engage young people in finding solutions

Seek active participation of young people in designing and developing services for any mental health resource.

Support youth-driven initiatives and advocacy for increased awareness and change.