That does not arise in a classroom or treatment room alone, but above all in everyday life: in contact with others such as friends, classmates and involved adults. "It is about support, recognition and the opportunity to share experiences," says Balledux. "It is precisely through living together that young people learn to cope with setbacks, build resilience and develop a sense of identity and purpose."
Stress is not an individual problem
There are an increasing number of initiatives, such as lessons about stress or programmes aimed at mental resilience. At the same time, however, this also entails a risk: individualising the problem too much and thinking that young people mainly need to 'learn to cope' with pressure, as if it is something they have to solve on their own. "If we really want to help young people, we should therefore not only invest in individual interventions, but above all in the environments in which they grow up. Think of schools, neighbourhoods and leisure facilities where there is room to meet one another, have fun together and contribute something. Places where young people can learn from and with one another, and where they experience that they are meaningful to others."
There is nothing wrong with you if you don't succeed
According to Balledux, this also requires something of the way we organise our society. "At present, there is a strong emphasis on achievement and individual responsibility. Young people are implicitly given the message that they should above all be successful and happy — and that there is something wrong with them if they do not achieve this. Yet we know that their wellbeing is closely connected to the space they are given to build relationships and feel connected."
"The key question is therefore: how much space do we still give young people to simply be young? To be together, experiment, fail and start over? If we create more space for that, we are not only investing in reducing mental health problems, but above all in strengthening a generation that feels resilient, connected and purposeful."
Go here to the website of Mental Health Week.