It has been reported that there is more depression than ever occurring in older teens and twenty year olds. This can be a difficult time and now more than ever there are difficulties which put pressure on this age group. Many young people are having – out of necessity – to remain living with their parents, as the cost of housing is too high for them to be able to afford their own place. This means that they are unable to have complete independence and control over their lives, which would build self-esteem and confidence. The workplace is also so competitive now, that the pressure to do the best, career-wise and gain as many qualifications as possible is higher than ever. In addition, the cost of university education, having tripled, puts many twenty year olds in a depressing debt situation, before they have even begun to think of settling down, buying a house and having a family. I know this well as we sometimes laugh about my son’s £50,000 debt he will leave university with, as it seems almost too absurd to be real.

What a depressing picture! On the other hand, in many ways the world is a better place for our young now, much more tolerant of minorities – allowing for a wonderful, rich diverse society which had not been previously accepted. There is huge amount of choice in all areas (sometimes this is not necessarily a good thing) and we have information at our finger tips about everything, thanks to the internet.

If you are an older teen or a twenty something, there a few things that you can do to help yourself feel more positive, and these include:

Cut down on your use of social media (yes, it’s hard, but studies have soon that overuse of this resource will not make you happy).  Cultivate real friendships, meet people face to face, it’s healthier and will promote wellbeing.

You don’t have to be Gwyneth Paltrow, but try to eat a healthy diet with lots of veg, fruit and good protein sources. If you do suffer from low mood, cut down on alcohol, as it is a depressant. Not too much caffeine or fizzy drinks, either.

Have a career goal, but be a little bit flexible in this regard, sometimes things do not happen as planned, but this can sometimes be for the best. Above all, try to do something that you really enjoy, then it won’t seem like work. Not always possible, but it can happen.

Don’t try to be superhuman – there is so much pressure on youngsters to look perfect, correct weight, nice hair, that many people are suffering with body image problems. Be you and know that you are lovely.

Find some form of exercise that you enjoy, and do it regularly. Walking, swimming, dancing, extreme pole-vaulting, whatever gets you going. Team sports are good too, as you get the social contact, which enhances well-being.

If things are really tough, consider counselling or hypnotherapy. It can really help.

The world has changed a lot since I was twenty and it’s not always easy, but the biggest thing to remember is that change CAN happen, and you can make the life that you want.

Best wishes,
Wendy x