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Every second young person is afraid of mental illness

Every second young person is afraid of mental illness

,   and  ASMedia
2 min read
Every second young person is afraid of mental illness
Every second young person is afraid of mental illness

Every second young person grapples with mental health apprehensions

Nearly two-thirds (65%) of survey participants express the utmost fear towards cancer. Contrasting the previous year, this figure was 72%. The number of individuals scared of dementia or Alzheimer's also decreased from 55% to 45%.

Accidents resulting in severe injuries and stroke or heart attack fears follow closely, affecting approximately 42% and 41% of the respondents, respectively. For nearly a third of participants, the fear of severe eye diseases, including blindness, takes priority. Lung disease (21%) and diabetes (13%) are less frequently feared.

Unsurprisingly, concerns about mental illness are most prominent among young adults (48%). Comparatively, just 27% across all age groups confessed to fearing mental health issues.

DAK-Gesundheit has been tracking Germans' health anxieties since 2010. Over a thousand individuals aged 14 and above, located nationwide, participated in the study between October 30 and November 2.

Before the study, young adults reported high levels of mental health apprehensions (48%). Although mental health concerns were still prevalent, other illnesses such as cancer, dementia, and heart disease ranked higher in terms of fear.

However, it is noteworthy that each age group had a lower incidence of individuals fearing mental illness, with young adults experiencing the highest rate.

Source:

Behind the Scenes:

Young adults, especially those aged 18 to 29, are statistically more likely to struggle with mental health issues compared to other age groups. Here's an in-depth look at the common fears among young adults and their mental health challenges compared to other age groups:

  1. Rising Anxiety and Mental Health Issues:
  2. Prevalence: Anxiety is a widespread mental health disorder, affecting young adults more than any other age group. In the United States, 26.6% of individuals within the 18-29 age group reported experiencing anxiety symptoms in the last two weeks (Source: CDC, 2024) [2].
  3. Symptoms: Moderate to severe anxiety symptoms are common among young adults, affecting 34% of this demographic (Source: Healthy Minds Study, 2023-2024) [3].
  4. Depression: Depression is also prevalent among young adults, with 38% reporting moderate to severe depressive symptoms (Source: Healthy Minds Study, 2023-2024) [3].
  5. Comparison to Other Age Groups:
  6. Children (3-17 years): Approximately 10% of children within this age group were diagnosed with anxiety, and 4% were diagnosed with depression (Source: CDC, 2021-2022) [1].
  7. Adults (18-29 years): This age group has the highest prevalence of anxiety, with 26.6% reporting symptoms in the past two weeks (Source: CDC, 2024) [2].
  8. Older Adults (65+ years): The lowest prevalence of anxiety is found in this age group, with 11.2% reporting symptoms in the past two weeks (Source: CDC, 2024) [2].
  9. Barriers to Treatment:
  10. Despite the high prevalence of mental health issues, young adults often hesitate to seek treatment. Common obstacles include cost, misconceptions about treatment, concerns about confidentiality, and cultural stigma (Source: JAMA study, 2023) [3].

In essence, young adults face a unique challenge in mental health concerns, exhibiting a higher incidence of anxiety and depression compared to other age groups. However, they frequently encounter numerous barriers that prevent them from seeking the necessary care and support.

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