When we think of young adults, we think of the thrill associated with firsts. First car, first roommate, first kiss, first apartment, first job. We like to imagine adolescents blossoming into confident young adults ready to take on the world. But this idealist picture we have of the most recent crop of youngsters has taken a hit in recent years. Instead of the lively freedom we may have envisioned, the current generation of late teens through early 20-somethings is quantifiably struggling.
Those between the ages of 18-25 have the highest rates of mental illness among all adults. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 36% of young adults in this age group are struggling with mental illness. To put this into perspective, 29% of those between the ages of 26-49 have a mental illness, with just 14% of Americans 50 and older. To make matters worse, while the youngest adult age bracket has the highest rates of mental illness, they also are the least likely to seek treatment.
So, if young adults are most prone to the likes of depression and anxiety but also the least likely to do anything about it, do they have any chance of getting out of their mental health funk?
Solutions to Fight Mental Illness
Let’s be clear, there are solutions, and community is a component to the path forward. A meta-analysis of 308,000 people found that those with no friends or weak friendships were twice as likely to die prematurely as those with close social bonds. A review of 38 studies found that having adult friendships, in particular high-quality ones, plays a substantial role in fending off depression and anxiety. Study after study shows that surrounding yourself with quality friends is fundamental to lasting well-being, but in a world where young adults would rather interact with their phones than friends, how do you go about cultivating these brain-chemistry-altering relationships?
MHFA Training
MHFA stands for Mental Health First Aid, a training course from the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. Taking a Mental Health First Aid course will equip an individual with the skills to identify early signs of mental health challenges and how to provide someone with initial support until they are connected with appropriate professional help. With MHFA, we see a different kind of community being built, one that takes a proactive approach to addressing mental illness.
In a recent conversation with Tramaine EL-Amin, the Vice President of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), she reported that since 2008, over 650 colleges and universities have undergone mental health first aid training, including at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where more than 1,600 educators and students have undergone MHFA training since 2022.
The training turns everyday people into a vital bridge to help by teaching them how to identify and connect with those experiencing mental health challenges. Trainees also learn how to provide initial support and direct those suffering to the resources and professional support they need to heal.
A mental health first responder here and there is nice, but in order to combat mental illness with impact, entire communities need to be trained to discern behavior indicative of mental illness and be able to take concrete actions to respond and improve the situation. By training young people and those around them to understand and support people who are struggling, we are creating a built-in support system.
Interacting Over Shared Interests
Frankly, it doesn’t matter what you’re into, so long as something gets you interacting with others face-to-face. Maybe it’s finally signing up for French lessons, enrolling in dance classes, or even joining a running club. But how do you go about developing an interest? Chances are, you already have interests; you just need to figure out how to leverage them to find community.
I guarantee that no matter how obscure your interest is, there are others in your area who are into the same things you are. Use this commonality to find community and connect with others. Use apps like Meetup and Facebook Groups to find interest-based communities in your area.
Third Places
There is a difference between friendship and a community. In a way, friendships are more fickle and difficult to find than a community. In a friendship, the entire dynamic involves just two people, but a community is bolstered by various bonds that all revolve around a shared interest.
Third places are where communities can most easily be found. Unlike friendships, which require precise coordination, third places are literal brick-and-mortar fixtures where community thrives. Third places are where people come together to connect that aren’t work, school, or home.
A third place may be a coffee shop, yoga studio, bar, or faith community. Putting yourself out there and making new friends isn’t easy, but putting yourself in an environment where everyone has the same shared interests gives you something to talk about and bond over.
There is no denying that medication and therapy have their place in addressing mental illness, but what those with depression and anxiety are often missing most are basic human necessities like community and social relationships. There is a community out there for all of us; we just need to have the courage to walk out of our front door and find it.
