Youth Mental Health Crisis Redefines the Path to Happiness

For decades, midlife was considered the toughest stage of life, with happiness forming a U-shaped curve—carefree youth, challenging middle age, and a more contented later life. However, a new UN-commissioned study suggests this pattern has disappeared, with young people now experiencing the greatest decline in wellbeing.

Rising Mental Health Struggles Among Youth

Research by Jean Twenge and David Blanchflower, published by the US National Bureau of Economic Research, analyzed data from six English-speaking countries— the US, UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. The findings indicate a sharp decline in happiness among young people, particularly young women, over the past decade.

The study points to the rise of smartphones and social media as key contributors, with cyberbullying, body shaming, and digital isolation replacing traditional social interactions. “The young have become isolated. They’re not going out, playing with friends, or interacting as much,” Blanchflower said.

A “Lost Generation” and Global Implications

Blanchflower, a former Bank of England policymaker, warned that youth wellbeing has been in steep decline since 2013, a trend that worsened after the COVID-19 pandemic. He expressed concern that the crisis could have severe economic and social consequences, from declining school performance to lower workforce participation and reduced global productivity.

“This may end up being a lost generation,” he said. “Young people are in deep disarray, and the question is, what do we do about it?”

A Global Challenge Needing Urgent Solutions

Beyond social media, other studies link youth mental health struggles to economic insecurity, climate anxiety, and social inequalities. The UN is now expanding research to determine if this crisis is affecting other regions worldwide.

“We always assumed happiness dipped in midlife, then rebounded. Now we must rethink that entirely,” Blanchflower noted.

With youth no longer experiencing the traditionally happiest phase of life, experts emphasize the urgent need for interventions to address this growing crisis.