Teenagers are thinking about their mental health a lot more than you thought

Teenagers are thinking about their mental health a lot mora than you thoughtTeenagers are thinking about their mental health a lot more than you thoughtTeenagers today have their sights set on a four-year college and fulfilling career.That could be part of why theyre so stressed by academics and feel depression and anxiety are a major aufgabe among young people in their communities.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreA recent survey by Pew Research Center, conducted between September and November 2018, paints a portrait of the 13-17-year-olds who are the workers of tomorrow. The data clearly suggests that theyre looking for jobs theyll enjoy and want to help people. It also shows that mental health is a seriousconcern among them, and a lot of the pressure they feel comes from school.Sixty-three percent of teens reported that having a job or career they enjoyed was extremely importan t to them - and an additional 32% felt it was very important- once they reached adulthood. Other, more traditional life goals were less of a priority among todays youth only 47% said getting married was extremely or very important to them, and 39% said the same about having children.Meanwhile, 81% said it was extremely or very important to them to help those in need as adults, compared to just 51% who felt the same way about having a lot of money. If these numbers are any indication, it appears that the United States will have more do-gooders than Scrouges among the next generation of adults.Credit Pew Research CenterTeens also seem aware of the value of education. 59% of respondents - 51% of boys and 68% of girls - said they planned to attend a four-year college, according to the survey.This life choice appears to be one of the main stressors on young people. 61% of teens feel a lot of pressure to get good grades, and among those who expect to go to a four-year college, 65% are concerned about affording it.Credit Pew Research CenterThese troubles may be part of why 70% of teens say anxiety and depression are a major problem among their peers. Mental health outranked bullying, drug addiction, alcohol consumption, poverty and other factors to be teens top-rated community-based concern, according to the Pew survey.While its good to know that todays teens want to love their jobs and help others, it should be alarming that so many young people are worried about the mental health of their communities. Perhaps its time to rethink our pipeline system to promote health and wellness, so the workers of tomorrow dont have to suffer today.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally str ong people