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Module 2, Activity 4

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Adolescence is a period of enormous change – for both young people & the people around them. It’s one of the greatest cornerstones of life. A time when you say goodbye to who you are as a child & discover who you are to become as an adult. It’s a heady adventure, a time of incredible energy, learning, self-discovery & of course rebellion. For everything that is good & exciting about being a young person, there are equal obstacles. Let’s have a look at some challenges & pressures young people face

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There’s the pressure of getting through and finishing school, the HSC, getting into & choosing tertiary studies, or finding a good job. Times are constantly changing when it comes to education and employment. Today’s generation of young people is the most educated generation ever – staying in school longer & going on to further education. Fifty years ago you trained in a job that would be your occupation for your entire working life. Now, research suggests that today’s generation of students will have up to five changes in occupation during their work life. Occupations are no longer for good, which provides great scope for young people but along with that is the stress of ‘where to next?’

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There is peer pressure – that need to fit in or conform, look & behave like everyone else. This can be particularly stressful if you don’t fit into the stereotypical mould.

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The pressure and influence from the media on how we look & feel about ourselves, buy & consume certain products or brands.

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The pressure to drink alcohol & take or try drugs. Drug & alcohol use varies but exists in most social circles. And today, there are more potent and addictive drugs available, compared to the past. The impact on the adolescent brain that is still developing & reaching maturity can be significant. Alcohol and drugs have been shown to have a significant link to mental health problems. It is often difficult to discern whether the mental health problems are related to the drug and alcohol use or the other way around. But what we do know is that excessive drug and alcohol use can have a significant impact on mental health and wellbeing – in the short and long term.

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The pressure to take needless risks, be daring & impulsive. Excessive risk-taking is also a warning sign for mental health problems. This applies to both males AND females and is often associated with alcohol use.

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The pressure to keep up with and use technology. Technology is prolific in the lives of young people these days and the pressure to keep up with new gear can be associated with peer pressure to have the latest look.

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There is the pressure to communicate & socialise through computers & technology. It’s an easy way to communicate & for some people it’s easy to get lost in their computer. Connection with friends through technology is very important for many people today. But an interesting observation about social media is that it’s not so much about communicating, but rather ‘broadcasting’ – telling people about YOU.

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You might notice that people online are quite different to how they are in reality. A lot of people seem to feel pressured to show a certain side of themself online, or be someone else!

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There is also the pressure of information overload and with today’s technology, it can be overwhelming. There’s a great wealth of information readily available today, but you have the challenge of judging what’s real, accurate & reliable. Screening and censoring information that young people access has also become more difficult. There are amazing things you can see & learn about – from the deep oceans to deep space – but you can also be exposed to some pretty nasty things like the trauma of war, violence, pornography, etc. We can see a bit of what life is like for people who live in poverty & these things deeply affect us without actually being in it.

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The pressure of bullying; both physical and verbal. Bullying can cause stress for victims, the bully and bystander witnesses.

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… & text bullying... This includes text messages, photos, and videos being shared too...

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…And of course cyber bullying. See www.BITEBACK.org.au/bookshelf/mental-fitness-topics/bullying & http://au.reachout.com/Bullying for some great information on how to deal with bullying

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The pressure of physical development, body image & sexuality. There is so much reference to the ideal looking male/female and the importance of looking attractive to other people that it can be stressful if you don’t fit the stereotypical image. For both guys

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And girls.

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Your home life can also be a source of pressure; both good and not so good

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Whatever it looks like… When there’s constant conflict in the home, the pressure can be enormous. But in any home, it’s quite common for some level of conflict to arise when you want to gain greater independence in adolescence. Compromises can be difficult to negotiate: hanging out with mates, going to parties, starting relationships, getting your driver’s licence & so on…

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And of course there’s the pressure of love & relationships... or lack of it. Again, the media & your peers often create the belief that you must be in a relationship and you must find “the one”. For a lot of young people who aren’t in a relationship, this can be a stressful time. And equally stressful or more so, when relationships break down.

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So consider all of these pressures that you need to balance: home life, school life, exams, peer pressure, bullying, drugs & alcohol, future career/s, body image, sexuality & love… Then add

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A mood disorder into the mix – & life can become increasingly challenging to keep your balance steady.