We are living through difficult times: the pandemic and threats of more to come, ongoing conflicts and wars, in Europe and around the world, soaring inflation and growing poverty … The news headlines make grim reading. And to our always-connected younger generation, they are inescapable.
The threat of climate disaster and global warming is arguably the most frightening issue when young people think about the future. It may have been less present in the media of late, overshadowed by what may have felt like closer and more immediate threats, but the issue has become very real for many teenagers over the summer with the heat waves and droughts on their doorsteps.
Global warming will lead to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns and events, resulting in problems such as water scarcity, catastrophic floodings, food shortages and famine, ill health and conflicts. The threats are no longer just localised tragic events, they have become global and existential. And these issues will undoubtedly lead to further conflict and war.
We can no longer shelter children and young people from these grim events because they have constant access to them via the internet and social media in particular.
And we know that the relentless cycle of bad news will have an impact on their mental health and wellbeing (see page 199). But what does it mean to not just live with constant fear, but a lack of hope for a better future?
The nature of the climate crisis in particular may lead young people to lose hope. And I can't blame young people for believing that they may be headed toward a future that they might simply not be able to live safely in.
What impact will these concerns have on teenagers at a crucial time in their lives. What impact will this have on the developing teenage brain? And, crucially what does it mean for their future emotional and physical health, and social development?
Public health messages are already difficult to convey at a time when their limbic system is very sensitive while their prefrontal cortex is still catching up. It will be increasingly difficult to convey messages regarding their future health and wellbeing if they believe there is no hope for a comfortable future. This might also be compounded by the fact that they may feel that adults are to blame for this.
While I am certain that many will show hope, resilience and adaptability, and will flourish despite all these adversities, we need to be prepared to support those children at risk of being beaten down by the messages of despair and losing their hope and resilience.