{"id":3361,"date":"2022-05-11T16:01:09","date_gmt":"2022-05-11T14:01:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/opinions\/?p=3361"},"modified":"2024-03-12T10:19:00","modified_gmt":"2024-03-12T09:19:00","slug":"youth-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/opinions\/youth-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Mental health is wealth &#8211; so why do Europe\u2019s youth have neither?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"boxed\">\n<p><em>The world is on fire. A global pandemic is raging. The economy is in slow mo. There are no jobs. Young people can\u2019t afford to move out of their parents\u2019 house or live on their own. Reading the news is depressing. It\u2019s no wonder that <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthforum.org\/news\/speak-up-for-mental-health\"> <em>youth mental health problems <\/em><\/a><em>have doubled in just one year. This year&#8217;s #EuropeanMentalHealthWeek three of our Greens\/EFA interns &#8211; <strong>Marco, Carolina and Timothy<\/strong>, young people from all over the EU &#8211; tell us how they have been affected by unemployment, the housing crisis and climate change, and the impact on their own mental health.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>Alongside COVID-19, another invisible pandemic has swept the globe since the beginning of 2020. We are talking about the <a href=\"https:\/\/thecanadapharmacy.com\/recovery-after-covid-19-full-guide\/\">crisis<\/a> in youth mental health. Young people are 30% to 80% more likely to experience depression or anxiety since the pandemic started, says <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mhe-sme.org\/the-covid-19-pandemic-is-impacting-the-mental-health-of-the-youth\/\">a report by the OECD<\/a> (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development).<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>The causes of mental health issues amongst young people are varied. And, of course, each young person has their own personal burdens. However, it is clear that our generation is confronted with some huge common problems. We\u2019re taking a closer look at three issues facing young people in Europe &#8211; the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/en\/Climate-Law\">climate crisis<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/en\/article\/press\/eu-bans-unpaid-internships\">unemployment<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/en\/campaigns\/housing\">housing<\/a> &#8211; and asking: what is it like to face these problems as a young person in the EU? And how can we protect our mental health?<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p><em>While you read, why not listen to our mental health <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/playlist\/5VRElSzmodPY0sTaOOZ1VP?si=c86d812f24c7484d&amp;pt=600f1524eb4912024996d6232a6b6901\"><em>playlist<\/em><\/a><em>? Feel free to dance a little with us over our shared problems!<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: MENTAL HEALTH IS WEALTH\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/playlist\/5VRElSzmodPY0sTaOOZ1VP?si=37f7552c76f14cb7&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"lazyblock-border-box-Z1AmNwC wp-block-lazyblock-border-box\"><div class=\"boxed pull-sidebar\">\n  <div class=\"offset-border-bg skew\"><\/div>\n  <div class=\"content skew\">\n    <div class=\"skew-reset\">\n      \n<div class=\"boxed\">\n<link href=\"https:\/\/actionnetwork.org\/css\/style-embed-whitelabel-v3.css\" rel=\"stylesheet\" type=\"text\/css\"><script src=\"https:\/\/actionnetwork.org\/widgets\/v4\/form\/stay-informed-26?format=js&amp;source=gg\"><\/script><div id=\"can-form-area-stay-informed-26\" style=\"width: 100%\"><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p class=\"has-green-dark-background-color has-background has-medium-font-size\"><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<h4 class=\"has-green-dark-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>Housing struggles: how do they affect youth mental health?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail is-resized is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/opinions\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/carolina_photo-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Carolina photo\" class=\"wp-image-3358\" width=\"75\" height=\"75\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/opinions\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/carolina_photo-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/opinions\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/carolina_photo-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/opinions\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/carolina_photo.jpg 410w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 75px) 100vw, 75px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p class=\"has-green-dark-color has-text-color\"><strong>Carolina from Madrid, Spain<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p><em>Carolina is 23 years old. We had a chat with her and she told us how housing struggles affect our generation&#8217;s mental health.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<h5 class=\"has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>How is the housing crisis in Europe impacting young people?<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>Finding a house is much more difficult than it was in the past &#8211; particularly for young people. While our parents or grandparents already had a job and a house at our age, we barely manage to pay rent each month.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>I&#8217;ve been lucky enough to live in four countries: Spain, France, Belgium and the UK. In all of them, I\u2019ve seen how my friends suffered the stress and uncertainty of not knowing where they would live next month. If they would find something at an affordable price or if they would have to pick up their things and go home again.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>High prices and a rapidly changing housing market make it a real struggle to find anywhere cheap to live. Often there are so many requirements before you can sign a contract. You have to secure an employment contract, find a guarantor, save for a deposit. It\u2019s a barrier many young people simply won\u2019t be able to cross. In Lyon, I lived in private accommodation for students. Even so, they asked me for my parents&#8217; salary over the last two years and for two guarantors. This was despite being a student with an Erasmus grant.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<h5 class=\"has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>Why is finding housing in European cities so difficult?<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>In Spain, I\u2019ve also seen the different realities of living in big cities such as Barcelona and Madrid. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statista.com\/statistics\/1084608\/average-rental-cost-apartment-europe-by-city\/\">average monthly rent<\/a> in these two cities <a href=\"https:\/\/cincodias.elpais.com\/cincodias\/2021\/08\/02\/economia\/1627898374_176082.html\">is 82% more expensive than in the rest of the country<\/a>. My friends coming to Madrid from other cities hardly managed to find a room at an affordable price. At the same time they had to pay for their education.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>On average, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.feantsa.org\/en\/press-release\/2017\/12\/10\/press-release-youth-homeless-organisations-across-europe-call-for-action-to-end-youth-homelessness-on-human-rights-day?fbclid=IwAR2gEKAwJn_t12E164DIo86pabdgArB6ruaXhuyXh81Ug2aGfmT6qnPCnmY\">young people make up 20-30% of the total number of homeless people<\/a> in the majority of European countries. These numbers have increased in the last years and the situation has only become worse during the pandemic.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>Even the luckiest, who can afford to pay rent, have to put more than 50% of their wages towards housing. Which makes it difficult to make ends meet. Unpaid internships or low wages added to the high cost of rent in most European countries makes it a vicious circle.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>Young people are trapped. We\u2019re unable to sign a rental contract by ourselves. Most of us are unable to afford rent and unable to save for our own home.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<h5 class=\"has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>What about sharing a flat? Is this the future of housing for young people?<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>Sharing a flat with five other people has become the normal thing for people in their mid-20s or 30s. In cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Paris, Amsterdam or Brussels, the average monthly rent for a flat is around 1000\u20ac. All the while, the average wage for young people in <a href=\"https:\/\/elpais.com\/economia\/2021-11-30\/el-sueldo-medio-alcanza-maximos-desde-2006-pero-el-30-de-los-asalariados-cobra-menos-de-1336-euros.html#:~:text=En%20conjunto%2C%20el%20salario%20medio,(2.361%2C2%20euros).\">Spain<\/a> or Italy is 1200\u20ac. It&#8217;s not difficult to do the maths. The only way to become independent is to share a flat.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>People talk about sharing a flat as an \u2018enriching experience\u2019 or \u2018living in a multicultural environment\u2019. They call it <em>co-living. <\/em>This wording tries to romanticise the very precarious situation so many young people find themselves in all over Europe. Living with strangers is not a <em>cool<\/em> personal preference &#8211; it\u2019s our only option.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<h5 class=\"has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>What has the housing crisis got to do with mental health?<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>The cost of rent, the anxiety of not finding a place to live or having to rely on your parents\u2019 financial support are fears that many young people throughout Europe share.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>The uncertainty makes it almost impossible for young people to even think about having children. Let alone buying a house without a stable job. It changes our major life choices. It can make us feel trapped and worthless. This insecurity about the future creates constant stress and concern about what will happen next.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>Housing struggles can lead to uncertainty, insecurity, anxiety, feeling uncomfortable or feeling depressed. These feelings can also worsen any existing mental health conditions. The majority of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.feantsa.org\/download\/report-chloe-eng5472656428791867789.pdf\">homeless young people are already dealing with mental health issues<\/a>, which can make it even harder for them to overcome the housing hurdles.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>I would like to see an EU mental health strategy. We need an Europe-wide approach to mental health. So no matter where in Europe you\u2019re from, mental health services are affordable and accessible to all of us. And, of course, we have to ensure access to affordable homes for everyone.<strong><u><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p class=\"has-green-dark-background-color has-background has-medium-font-size\"><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<h4 class=\"has-green-dark-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>Unemployment: how does it affect youth mental health?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail is-resized is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/opinions\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/marco_piana-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Marco Piana\" class=\"wp-image-3202\" width=\"75\" height=\"75\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p class=\"has-green-dark-color has-text-color\"><strong>Marco from Pavia, Italy<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p><em>Marco is 26 years old. He told us how being unemployed has affected him mentally and how it is affecting youth mental health in general.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<h5 class=\"has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>Marco, how did it feel being unemployed during the pandemic?<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>I was 24 when I moved from Copenhagen to Brussels, <em>hoping to start my working life soon<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>After the first few days, I understood that the level of competition to get a paid internship related to my interests (International Relations and Cooperation) was very high. The job market was saturated. I tried to find a job in a bar, a restaurant or a shop. Without it I would not have been able to pay my bills. But, unfortunately, within two weeks everything closed down.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>So, I lowered my expectations and simply hoped to find any source of income as soon as possible. I carried on through aseemingly infinite series of application forms and subsequent <em>rejections<\/em>. They always started with, &#8220;<em>Despite your profile being highly qualified for the position, on this occasion, we&#8217;ve decided not to take your application further<\/em>\u201d. Or again, \u201c<em>I&#8217;m writing to let you know that you&#8217;ve not been selected for an interview, but we are sure you will find something else in the future, considering your brilliant profile!<\/em>\u201d. But my profile alone wasn\u2019t enough. I needed work experience before I could get work experience.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>I spent months in a precarious condition, both mentally and financially. Covid-19 restrictions and the lockdown had a further negative impact on my daily routine. After six months, I had almost reached a burnout. Eventually, I had to go back home to Italy for a few months, which made me feel worse. I thought I had lost the battle to win a job.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<h5 class=\"has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>How has the COVID-19 <\/em><\/strong><strong><em>pandemic and unemployment affected young people?<\/em><\/strong><em><\/em><\/h5>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>In the end, I decided to give up on a paid job and start an <em>unpaid<\/em> internship to keep boosting my CV. It definitely did &#8211; and at least I felt like I was doing something.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>I\u2019m lucky enough that my family was able to support me in one way or the other. But, despite the various part-time jobs I had on the side, I&#8217;ve always been dependent on somebody. More than once, I felt that my very dignity was being stripped away from me. Such a feeling of inadequacy made me doubt my skills. It also made me second guess the choices I\u2019d made and lose confidence in the employment system.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>Have you had a similar experience in the last two years?<em> You are not alone.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/eurostat\/statistics-explained\/index.php?title=Statistics_on_young_people_neither_in_employment_nor_in_education_or_training&amp;stable=0&amp;redirect=no#Young_people_neither_in_employment_nor_in_education_or_training\">research by Eurostat<\/a>, in 2020 there were almost 14 million young adults (aged 20\u201334) who were neither in employment nor in education and training.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.europarl.europa.eu\/RegData\/etudes\/STUD\/2021\/662942\/IPOL_STU(2021)662942_EN.pdf\">recent study by the European Parliament<\/a> showed that young people were particularly affected by the COVID-19 crisis. <\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"lazyblock-border-box-ZbKuKd wp-block-lazyblock-border-box\"><div class=\"boxed\">\n  <div class=\"offset-border-bg skew\"><\/div>\n  <div class=\"content skew\">\n    <div class=\"skew-reset\">\n      \n<div class=\"boxed\">\n<h5 class=\"has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>This is what the study found on employment and youth mental health:<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"boxed\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The pandemic hit hardest in the hospitality sector. It employs many students who couldn\u2019t afford to lose their only source of income.<\/li><li>Many employers are reluctant to hire young people due to lack of experience. But we can\u2019t get experience without getting a job. This creates an impossible situation for young people trying to find work after finishing their education.<\/li><li>Young people are more likely to sign temporary contracts. But those were also the first ones that were terminated during the COVID-19 pandemic, and thus the most precarious.<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<div style=\"height:21px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>Another Europe-wide study found that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eurofound.europa.eu\/sites\/default\/files\/ef_publication\/field_ef_document\/ef21064en.pdf\">mental\u202fwellbeing has\u202freached\u202fits \u202flowest level \u202facross all age groups<\/a>\u202fsince\u202fthe start of the pandemic over two years ago. Young people have experienced more loneliness, depression and social isolation than any other age group.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<h5 class=\"has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>What is being done to tackle unemployment and youth mental health in the EU?<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>2022 is the <a href=\"https:\/\/europa.eu\/youth\/year-of-youth_en#content\">European Year of Youth<\/a>, which aims to shine a light on the importance of on the importance of giving a voice to the challenges that our youth has to undergo. EU Member States have submitted their investment plans to improve overall living standards for young people in the European Union, after the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>Kim Van Sparrentak, one of the Greens\/EFA\u2019s youngest MEPs, addressed the issue last February with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/CZrj1UQgaOZ\/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=\">a brilliant speech<\/a> in the European Parliament debate, \u201c<em>One youth, one Europe<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/CZrj1UQgaOZ\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/CZrj1UQgaOZ\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <div style=\" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;\"> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 19% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;\"><svg width=\"50px\" height=\"50px\" viewBox=\"0 0 60 60\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" xmlns:xlink=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/1999\/xlink\"><g stroke=\"none\" stroke-width=\"1\" fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><g transform=\"translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)\" fill=\"#000000\"><g><path d=\"M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631\"><\/path><\/g><\/g><\/g><\/svg><\/div><div style=\"padding-top: 8px;\"> <div style=\" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/CZrj1UQgaOZ\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Greens\/EFA-European Parliament (@greensefa)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>The Greens\/EFA Group works hand in hand with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fyeg.org\/news\/ban-unpaid-internships\">FYEG<\/a> (the umbrella organisation for Young Greens in Europe). Together, we\u2019re campaigning for a <a href=\"https:\/\/act.greens-efa.eu\/ban-unpaid-internships\">ban on unpaid internships<\/a>. We want a minimum standard of rights for young people\u2019s working conditions.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>For me, this would be the first practical step to fill a gap that too many young people have to undergo before being able to earn a decent, dignified income and start their transition into adulthood.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p class=\"has-green-dark-background-color has-background has-medium-font-size\"><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<h4 class=\"has-green-dark-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>Climate anxiety: how does climate change affect young people\u2019s mental health?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-thumbnail is-resized is-style-rounded\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/opinions\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/tim_cullen-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Tim Cullen\" class=\"wp-image-3203\" width=\"75\" height=\"75\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/opinions\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/tim_cullen-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/opinions\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/tim_cullen-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/opinions\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/tim_cullen-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/opinions\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/tim_cullen.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 75px) 100vw, 75px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p class=\"has-green-dark-color has-text-color\"><strong>Timothy from Trier, Germany<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p><em>Timothy is 26 years old, and of Scottish and German nationality. Together we discussed how climate change affects youth mental health and fuels young people\u2019s anxiety.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<h5 class=\"has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>What is climate anxiety exactly?<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>Climate anxiety is a form of psychological distress from the threat posed by the climate crisis. It\u2019s a relatively new phenomenon, but its effects are widespread. A recent <a href=\"https:\/\/simon-schnetzer.com\/jugend-in-deutschland-trendstudie-sommer-2022\/\">study <\/a>from Germany showed that 55% of young people were concerned by the impacts of climate change on their wellbeing.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>As young people, we tend to experience climate anxiety more intensely. We are the generation that will bear the consequences of a warming planet. Climate anxiety among the youth is often attributed to a sense of powerlessness that arises when governments do too little to stop climate change.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>We have now reached a period where we\u2019re seeing the consequences of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=jJ_qjn1Fx_w\">climate <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=jJ_qjn1Fx_w\">change unfold in front of our eyes<\/a>. We have all witnessed or even been personally affected by natural disasters like forest fires, droughts and floods. There is a sense of inevitability about climate change. Too little is being done, too late. Climate anxiety in young people has shot up, as they fear for their own and the planet\u2019s future.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>This anxiety is also fuelled by the recent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/opinions\/understanding-the-latest-ipcc-report\/\">IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report<\/a>, that tells us that these climate disasters will get worse if governments do not start acting now. Inaction on climate change means inaction on protecting youth mental health.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<h5 class=\"has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>Timothy, can you tell us what climate anxiety means to you?<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>Climate anxiety to me is a deeply personal experience. Last year, I witnessed the devastation caused by severe floods close to my hometown of Trier, in the west of Germany. More than 200 people in Europe lost their lives to the floods.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>I remember the emotions of that summer well. I felt sad and powerless watching the news. It was that same sense of helplessness I experienced during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Only this time, the catastrophe hit so close to home.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>My fear today is that these types of events will happen over and over again. It is a sad reality. Especially, because climate anxiety does not feel like something young people should be dealing with. As a young person, I should not have to worry about the ignorance and inaction of governments in the fight against climate change. Climate anxiety is an unnecessary burden on the backs of young people.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<h5 class=\"has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>What can we do about climate anxiety? <\/em><\/strong><em><\/em><\/h5>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>First, we absolutely need more affordable and accessible mental health services.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>If governments really want to show that they take climate anxiety seriously, then they should do everything in their power to improve mental health care. This also includes more funding for research into mental health issues.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>Thankfully, I have seen that despite all obstacles, our generation is a resilient one. After a 2-year absence, we saw climate activists return to the streets for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/opinions\/join-the-global-climate-strike\/\">first global climate strike<\/a> since the pandemic.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>What I have found out for myself is that attending a rally makes me overcome the many negative emotions I associate with climate change. I feel empowered and find a sense of belonging, as I see that my generation is in this fight together. It really helps put my mind at ease a bit.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>Ultimately, the only way we can eliminate climate anxiety as one of the roots for mental health problems is to mitigate climate change. We need clear climate action and we need it now. (Read how the Greens\/EFA have been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/en\/Climate-Law\">pushing for climate action<\/a> in the EU).<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>We must keep up the pressure. Our most powerful tool to hold decision-makers to account is to take the fight for climate justice to the streets. We must demand that politicians act now. Not just for the sake of our mental health, but for a worthwhile future on our beautiful planet.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<h4 class=\"has-green-dark-color has-text-color has-medium-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong>So, where do we go from here?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>Most of us will have a mental health problem at some point in our life. Every young person in need of therapy services deserves access to appropriate therapy options, regardless of their financial situation.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>We need an EU mental health strategy. We need <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=OoVdf-mTQm8\">mental health services<\/a> that are affordable and accessible to all. And especially for the poorest, for migrants and for the most vulnerable.<br><br>To fix the mental health crisis for young people, we need:<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>A right to mental health services across the EU<\/li><li>Funding for mental health care and research<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/en\/campaigns\/housing\">An end to homelessness in the EU<\/a><\/li><li>Housing allowances for young people<\/li><li>An EU-wide minimum income<\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/act.greens-efa.eu\/ban-unpaid-internships\">A ban of unpaid internships<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>We realise that there are no quick fixes to big problems like unemployment, housing and the climate crisis. Yet, our stories show that young people\u2019s mental health concerns should be taken seriously. We are tired of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are tired of the mental health pandemic.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>Clearly, we are now at a crossroads. EU governments either keep ignoring the root causes for mental health or start acting. We hope that our stories have given them some food for thought.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<h5 class=\"has-normal-font-size wp-block-heading\"><strong><em>Now we want to hear from you!<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>What are your experiences with mental health during the pandemic? Do you have climate anxiety? What are your thoughts on the war in Ukraine? We are looking forward to hear from under this Instagram post.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<p>We will be in the comments to reply &#8211; see you there!<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n\n<\/div><div class=\"boxed\">\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media\" data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CddpTQBs7at\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\" style=\" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);\"><div style=\"padding:16px;\"> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CddpTQBs7at\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <div style=\" display: flex; 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font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;\">View this post on Instagram<\/div><\/div><div style=\"padding: 12.5% 0;\"><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;\"><div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;\"><\/div> <div style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: 8px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)\"><\/div><\/div><div style=\"margin-left: auto;\"> <div style=\" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);\"><\/div> <div style=\" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);\"><\/div><\/div><\/div> <div style=\"display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;\"> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;\"><\/div> <div style=\" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;\"><\/div><\/div><\/a><p style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CddpTQBs7at\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" style=\" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A post shared by Greens\/EFA-European Parliament (@greensefa)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote> <script async=\"\" src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Youth mental health has rapidly decreased in recent years. Our three green interns explain why and what we can do about it. Read here.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":3359,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"mp_greens_extranet_document_id":9663,"mp_greens_extranet_translation_id":0,"mp_greens_extranet_lang":"en","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3361","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-allgemein"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Mental health is wealth - so why do Europe\u2019s youth have neither?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Youth mental health has rapidly decreased in recent years. Our three green interns explain why and what we can do about it. Read here.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.greens-efa.eu\/opinions\/youth-mental-health\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Mental health is wealth - so why do Europe\u2019s youth have neither?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Youth mental health has rapidly decreased in recent years. Our three green interns explain why and what we can do about it. 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