How much of that do you think is due to a lack of emotional resilience in younger gneerations?
You mean some form of innate emotional resilience? Well, that seems quite deep of a topic.
However, I am usually averse to this kind of discourse the way it is often presented by older people.
I think a common fallacy that people have is believing past generations were somehow more emotionally resilient because, apparently, they did not have depression, anxiety etc. on the same rates as youngsters today.
However, I also must point out that access to psychiatrist diagnosis and public awareness of mental illness have exponentially increased these days. In the past, these things were often brushed off. I know an older family member of mine that is a prime example of that.
So all-around I think it is natural that we will see more diagnosis. The DSM (reference manual for diagnosing mental illness) also keeps expanding and so does the reach of mental health services.
That said, it is reasonable that mental illness rates may be increasing even accounting for the increases in access to mental health services. In that case, I would point out that there are many factors that could explain this rise, like an increase in individualism and loneliness, loss of third spaces and community life, reduction in real wages, economic and climatic uncertainty, political polarization, rise of irreligion and nihilism, social media and modern technology, etc.
All of these things go beyond a lack of innate emotional resilience from the younger generations.
Also, I would like to point out that many people in the past showed clearly maladaptive behaviors indicative of mental distress, but those were often normalized under social norms that heavily favored conformism and cohesion over questioning stigma and overcoming generational trauma.
Domestic violence was normalized: men would take out their anger on their spouses. LGBTQ+ individuals faced stigma, isolation and no support, so many never came out publicly as the consequences were severe and there was no real help waiting for them. Autistic people were often misunderstood and often did not receive proper support. Women who expressed distress were often labeled hysterical etc.
Overall, I do think younger generations are struggling with emotional resilience, but I do not see that necessarily as a moral deficit on their part. We are a generation living in very difficult social conditions where many basic needs necessary for proper mental health are not being met. We also live in an era of rising nihilism as some deeply ingrained social norms are being questioned by society by the first time in history basically, like sexuality.
I just want to end this by saying I do not believe that the stereotypical image of a man that goes to fight on a gruesome war is necessarily proof of 'emotional resilience'.
A soldier in the past may go to war because society told them so, and they are under the spells of nationalism, religion, patriarchy etc. This same soldier may mistreat and abuse their wife, may spank their children and not teach them healthy forms of masculinity, may support hateful beliefs, may develop trauma that is subsequently misunderstood by society, may be a horrible husband and ruin his marriage etc.
I do not consider such a soldier to be 'mentally resilient' at all in that case, regardless of how apparently 'manly' or 'gruesome' their actions at war may be. Not saying war or military service does not build character or discipline, as it certainly can, and I value that. But I am just pointing out that people in the past weren't all stoic and free from mental distress or trauma. They still suffered from these things, but they were not diagnosed and their acts or displays of violence were often normalized and overlooked.
Take a look at veterans suffering from PTSD today. It has always been more or so like this, in my view. It is good awareness of mental health is increasing in our age.
So I don't blame the young generations in a moralistic sense. I think we need to become more disciplined and emotionally resistent for sure, but I will not pretend older generations also didn't struggle with this.
It has always been difficult. I will not judge or scold younger people — they are doing their best.
So this is long enough already, but these are my thoughts. I didn't offer sources admittedly, but I don't have time for that now. But I do think everything I said is pretty reasonable, and I just gave a bunch of reflections on this matter from what I noticed meeting people and observing the world.
You or anyone is free to share more.
