Summary
A UN-commissioned study finds that youth happiness has declined sharply over the past decade in English-speaking countries.
Traditionally, happiness followed a U-shape, with youth being a peak period, but it now increases with age instead.
Researchers link this shift to social media, cyberbullying, and reduced social interaction.
The mental health crisis may have significant consequences that affect education, workforce participation, and productivity. The UN is investigating whether this trend is a global phenomenon.
Thank you, you are a beautiful person by what I can tell. And yes, these are skills that I have had to learn the hard way, and I have worked hard to learn them. I am also working part-time as a bartender nowadays, which is something I thought to be completely impossible for me - in addition to having a stable relationship and cutting off toxic people and relationships - not more than 5 years ago. So things are and have been looking up for a while now. And no I don’t mind you saying at all, and in fact if you ever have anything that you think I might be able to help you with, please don’t hesitate reaching out.
Thank you so much. Same to you, I’m here for support or whatever helpful resources I am able to offer.
I relate to this a lot BTW. I am currently digging myself out of the hole I was born in and proceeded to dig even deeper for many years, and the progress I’m making is finally more measurable, visible, and helpful to others, in a way that feels very validating and confirms to me that while I may make mistakes and even cause harm at times, I am on the right path and I am doing what I’ve always wanted to by being there for others (and myself) and minimizing harm while maximizing benefit in my interactions with anyone and also with anything else that I exert influence on in any way, such as systems or processes that affect others or communities, IRL or digital (like this one). I am doing things that felt truly impossible or even incomprehensible in the past, including living to my current age. Keep up the self improvement work, it’s working!! Your hard work is paying off and I appreciate you.
Same here! A close friend who is going through the breakup and aftermath of an extremely toxic relationship actually validated my efforts by saying something along the lines of “There are a few people in my life who have kept me alive. I think you are one of them.” which is a heart-warmingly typical way of saying “thank you” for him. All I have done is talk to people in the way I wished others would have known how to talk to me when I was at rock bottom (or indeed after someone threw me a shovel while there). Of course I’m not blaming any of my friends for not knowing how to do such, as - and forgive me if I sound presumptuous - not that many people in general may have gone through what I have, and probably even fewer around here. Or then it’s the local style of not communicating or really even knowing how to show empathy in situations like these.
Yeah I definitely get that, that sounds like a good friend. I’ve had others giving me positive and validating feedback (especially lately) that is really helpful in letting me know I’m on the right path and that what I’m trying to do in being there for others is working and being received and appreciated which is something I’m very grateful for. I don’t think thats presumptuous, we all have unique experiences that we perceive in different ways, and learn different things from, and that allows us each to have our own perspective that make new things possible. It sounds like you’re going great, keep it up :)