Global Issues Affecting Wellness

Description of the Issue and Event
The increasing prevalence of anxiety and depression has become a global issue that reflects negatively on the overall wellness of the global population. Global wellness is one of the leading topics in modern-day research due to the multiple factors that have proven to be potential triggers of adverse mental health outcomes. Unlike any other time in history, more people have been diagnosed with various mental health illnesses. Among these illnesses, depression and anxiety have proven to be at the top of the list, leading to adverse health outcomes such as extremely low quality of life, increasing suicide rates, and other associated implications (Moitra et al., 2023). Currently, depression and anxiety serve as significant predictors of the wellness of the global population. Due to the current global events, more people are experiencing excessive worry, endless fear, and a continued decline in their overall satisfaction with life.
The Origin of the Issue
In the last few decades, mental health issues have gained recognition. Still, a critical examination reveals that the global population has registered a negative trend that has only worsened with time. The World Health Organization has sought to create awareness regarding the worrying patterns that explain how the global population continues to register alarming prevalence rates. The impact of these mental health conditions on the population remains overwhelming, making it difficult to establish effective interventions that can help in combating long-term health outcomes. Multiple factors serve as potential triggers in the development of anxiety and depression (Moitra et al., 2023). Adverse experiences have been at the forefront in triggering the development of depression, as people are unable to adopt effective coping mechanisms that can help them navigate the difficult seasons in their lives. With the increasing uncertainties in life, more people have become anxious and cannot control their excessive worry regarding the future.
Populations Affected by Depression and Anxiety
Although depression and anxiety affect various populations, young people have registered a higher prevalence of these mental health disorders. Teenagers and young adults have been affected by the digital era, global pandemics such as COVID-19, high unemployment rates, substance abuse, and their inability to cope with the constantly changing world. In such a case, young people from low socio-economic status are more likely to develop anxiety and depression (Prasad et al., 2023). The struggle with racism, prejudice, and the desire to belong makes young people more prone to developing depression and anxiety. The lack of adequate support from families, the dysfunction in the family unit, and other associated factors have all increased the prevalence of depression and anxiety among young people.
How Society Impacts Depression and Anxiety
Society has greatly influenced the increasing prevalence of anxiety and depression due to the existing social standards and stigma that hinder people from seeking treatment. In this context, society has fostered unrealistic beauty standards and definitions of success that have put pressure on young people while increasing the prevalence of depression and anxiety (Alshehri et al., 2023). The society has always stigmatized people with mental health illnesses, a factor that hinders access to healthcare services. In the long run, young people suffer due to the social pressure that makes it difficult to seek psychotherapy promptly.
General Education Interdisciplinary Lens
From the context of social science, it is apparent that more young people lack access to the social support they need to cope with the multiple challenges they experience. This lens also reveals how society has made it harder for people facing depression and anxiety to access quality healthcare services (Sarwar et al., 2022). In this context, the lens also demonstrates the importance of psychosocial support, which can help in empowering young people to overcome their anxiety and depression.
Thesis Statement
In today’s society, depression and anxiety pose significant global health challenges, particularly for young people, who face undue pressure and stigma when seeking mental healthcare. This issue can be better understood through the lens of social science.
 
References
Alshehri, A., Alshehri, B., Alghadir, O., Basamh, A., Alzeer, M., Alshehri, M., & Nasr, S. (2023). The prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms among first-year and fifth-year medical students during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study. BMC Medical Education, 23, Article 411. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-023-04387-x
Moitra, M., Owens, S., Hailemariam, M., Wilson, K. S., Mensa-Kwao, A., Gonese, G., Kamamia, C. K., White, B., Young, D. M., & Collins, P. Y. (2023). Global mental health: Where we are and where we are going. Current Psychiatry Reports, 25(7), 301–311. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-023-01426-8
Prasad, S., Souabni, S. A., Anugwom, G., Aneni, K., Anand, A., Urhi, A., Obi-Azuike, C., Gibson, T., Khan, A., & Oladunjoye, F. (2023). Anxiety and depression amongst youth as adverse effects of using social media: A review. Annals of Medicine and Surgery, 85(8), 3974–3981. https://doi.org/10.1097/MS9.0000000000001066
Sarwar, A., Islam, Md. A., Mohiuddin, M., Tareq, M. A., & Siddika, A. (2022). Social connections and self-perceived depression: An enhanced model for studying teenagers’ mental wellbeing. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(23), Article 15791. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315791