In my professional psychotherapy and counseling practice, I have observed that young people are more knowledgeable about mental health challenges compared to their parents. Specifically, I have noticed that many young people from immigrant, racialized and diverse cultural backgrounds feel that their parents and their community need to adapt to the Canadian context while keeping their Values of care for children and family. They express that it is important for children, youth, and especially young women in the family to have an equal voice in making decisions about pursuing their desired education, participating in sports or fitness activities, and choosing their own partners for marriage with support and guidance from parents and elders. However, when these youth struggle with issues such as mental health, navigating their identity in a new country, experiencing poverty, or facing difficult home environment, they may turn to substance use as a coping mechanism.
Mental health and substance use issues can have a significant impact on young people. Growing up in Western countries for young people from immigrant, racialized and diverse cultural backgrounds is a time of great change and development, and many of them struggle with the challenges of growing up. They are mostly are caught up among challenging and sometimes conflicted and contradicting world views, one at home and another outside. This is negatively impacting their mental health. Without the family or professional support they are attracted to using substance such as cannabis, alcohol, nicotine or opioids. Substance use provides short term relief but make mental health more difficult to navigate.
We know that mental health issues can manifest in a variety of ways, including stress, anxiety, depression, obesity, social media and video gaming addiction, eating disorders and others. These conditions can affect a young person’s mood, feelings, thoughts and behaviours, and can make it difficult for them to function in their daily life. If they are not supported, this can have long-term consequences, including extreme poverty or a higher risk of suicide which is increasingly been seen in the newcomer and racialized community groups.
Substance use or addiction is increasingly impacting young people. It can have negative effects on people’s physical health, including harm to the brain, heart, liver, and other organs. It can also lead to social problems, including problems with siblings, peers and parents or lack of education, or unemployment and not well settled and integrated into the mainstream society. Additionally, substance use or addiction can increase the risk of mental health problems, including stress, depression and anxiety.
The co-occurrence of mental health and substance use issues can immensely impact the lives of young people and their families. However, with the appropriate and timely support from professionals, families and elders, young people can recover and lead happier, healthier and more meaningful lives. To achieve this, it is crucial for parents, elders, and the community groups to partner with healthcare community agencies and become knowledgeable about the signs and symptoms of these challenges, and seek help when necessary at individual, family and community levels.
In particular, parents, elders, and community groups should also prioritize addressing the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use within their families and communities, and ensure that their children, especially their daughters, have equal access to resources and support.
Views: 25
