PRESSION: THE MONSTER WITHIN MANY

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses in the U.S., as it affects a large sum of people coming from different walks of life. According to the World Health Organization, almost 300 million people around the world have depression. Millennials—people ages 18 to 35 and Generation Z—people ages from 15 to 21, were reported to have the worst mental health of any generation based on the American Psychological Association’s annual stress in America report.

Stress and unhappiness levels were high among different generations. It was reported that the average reported stress level across age groups was 4.9 out of 10 and older adults fall below this level. The average stress level among boomers and older adults falls on 4.1 and 3.3 respectively. This is the complete opposite case for the younger age group. Generation X had an average stress level of 5., Millennials had the highest average at 5.7 and the Generation Z fell in the middle with a 5.3 average, but in many aspects of the survey conducted Gen Z felt more stressed than the older age groups. It was also reported that in 2017, a lot of women were depressed with a percentage of 8.5 than men with 4.8 percent.

A CLOSER LOOK AT MILLENNIALS

Millennials are experiencing high levels of anxiety, depression, and thoughts of suicide more than generations before it. There are a lot of studies in psychology that gives different reasons as to what causes it but none remains definitive until a recent study published in the UK found out that millennials hold a higher level of perfectionism and expectations that are to blame. This age group feels overburdened with a perfectionist streak that is unknown even to their parents or grandparents.

This age group feels overburdened with a perfectionist streak that is unknown even to their parents or grandparents.

The researchers in the study defined the term perfectionist as the combination of excessively high personal standards with overly critical self-evaluations. The data showed that millennials experience three types of perfectionism: self-oriented perfectionism, external pressure perfectionism, and external perfectionism.

Millennials aren’t doing simple perfectionism but a more complex one. This means that these young adults feel pressure that measures up to an ever-growing number of criteria. Higher educational demands, a job with a significant salary, competitiveness, individualism, and overbearing parents are factors that can increase depression.

Social media is also a huge contributor to a person’s episodes of depression.

The authors of the study pointed out that neoliberal meritocracy caused these young people to strive, perform, and achieve a lot in modern life. Young people are reported to respond to unrealistic educational and professional expectations for themselves.

Social media is also a huge contributor to a person’s episodes of depression. Peers that have the ideals of perfect bodies, achieving goals, and wealth can influence and trigger feelings of insecurity.  These can fuel up the tendency of personal drawback that could maybe result positively or otherwise.

We all learn more from our mistakes than our successes. Taking time to step back maybe beneficial to lessen the chance of the rising suicide rates that comes alongside perfectionism.

Check out: MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT CAUSES OF SADNESS, SUICIDE AND THE DEPRESSED

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