When the world feels heavy, it is more important than ever to support young people’s well-being.
Chahnaz T. Baroudi, School Psychologist – Qatar Foundation
Young people all throughout the world are growing up in a period of great change, with many demands on them and a lot of uncertainty. As a key speaker at the panel Healthy Minds at School: Supporting Student Wellbeing, co-hosted by WISH and 321 Museum, I had the opportunity to hear directly from students about their challenges and hopes. What stayed with me most from that discussion was how important it is not only to talk about young people’s mental health but to genuinely listen to them. When young people feel that their voices are heard and taken seriously, their sense of safety becomes stronger, even when the world around them feels uncertain.
These conversations highlighted how a lot of young people nowadays are coping with emotional problems that are worse than those that earlier generations had to cope with. These problems include the pressure to achieve well in school and events that are always being spoken about. The National Institutes of Health and other health groups say that more young people are having mental health problems, including more anxiety, depression, and stress.
There isn’t just one thing that causes these problems. Because social media and digital technology are everywhere, young people now think about themselves in a different way. They compare themselves to others and question if they fit in. The pressure to get good grades has also gone up, which might make it more stressful than helpful. A lot of young people are also growing up in a world that seems unpredictable since there are always new things happening, and tensions are high. These experiences can affect their mental health over time, even if they don’t always show it.
In my work with people, I’ve learned that the most important thing for them is not just large events, but also the feeling that the world around them is not solid when their routines are not regular and when the people around them are frightened. Young individuals might not be able to talk about their anxieties. They need to know that everything will be well.
This makes schools, families, and communities wonder how they might help young people’s mental health in a world that is stressful and uncertain.
Instead of trying for a quick fix, we should think about what young people need most when they are worried and unsure: stability, connection, and the knowledge that they are not alone and that they are heard, seen, and safe.
A key worry is how stressful places damage people’s thinking. Young individuals are keenly aware of the world around them. Even when they aren’t directly involved, they can often feel the stress in the people around them when their habits change or conversations are laced with fear.
I’ve seen how quickly individuals pick up on these signs in my work with them. Sometimes they don’t even know what’s going on, but they know something isn’t right.
The United Nations Children’s Fund has said that stress that lasts for a long time, whether from academic pressure, social expectations, or significant events, can disrupt sleep, focus, mood, and conduct. This can make you irritable, want to be alone, lose interest, or have trouble paying attention in class. These reactions don’t mean you’re weak. Normal reactions of a youthful mind attempting to figure out a difficult world.
Some people, especially those who are more sensitive or have trouble learning, can feel overwhelmed by even slight changes. I’ve seen that when routines are broken, students who were calm before may become restless, worried, or quickly frustrated. They don’t require an explanation right now. A feeling that someone gets about how they feel. Young people can go back on track even when they can’t change the environment if they feel safe emotionally.
Instead of attempting to get rid of all sources of stress, which isn’t always possible, we should work on making places where young people feel supported, connected, and sure that they aren’t going through hard times alone.
You can’t say enough about how important it is to have helpful relationships. Having solid and compassionate connections is one thing that helps keep your mental health good. When adults around young people are calm, available, and really paying attention, the young people are more likely to handle stress better. I often hear kids say that what helps them the most is knowing that there is someone who will listen to them without criticizing them or attempting to solve things.
Truly listening to young people is crucial to validate their emotions, build trust, foster self-esteem, and help them feel valued rather than dismissed. It is essential for understanding their unique perspectives on modern challenges and prepare them to take ownership of their future.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has done research that reveals a positive school environment and strong family ties are directly associated to lower levels of anxiety and improved emotional adjustment. This doesn’t mean that adults always know what to do. In fact, young people typically feel better when adults admit that things can be hard while still being calm and present.
Schools may make kids feel safe by doing things like greeting them by name, having a set schedule that provides the day structure, or having a conversation where a child feels heard without being rushed. These little things can really affect how a student feels about their day. Young people are better equipped to handle stress and believe that they can handle problems when they feel noticed and respected.
A helpful environment doesn’t make problems go away. It helps young people deal with issues by giving them the emotional strength they need.
It’s also crucial to remember that not all young people handle stress this way. Some people may become calm and introverted, while others may be irritable, restless, or have trouble concentrating. People sometimes think these emotions are faults, although they could be indicators that someone is feeling overwhelmed. In my work with young people, I’ve seen that the behavior we witness is frequently just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how they really feel. They may not yet have the vocabulary to explain how they feel.
This variability in how young people handle stress is even clearer among pupils with neurodevelopmental disorders like Autism Spectrum Disorder, who may need routine and predictability to feel safe. Changes that seem small to adults might feel extremely big to these kids. When the situation becomes unexpected, their reactions may become more intense, not because they are less capable. Because they need stability more.
I often remind families and teachers that when the body feels safer, the mind can think more clearly. Small moments of movement, a few slow breaths, or helping a young person focus on what they can see and feel around them can restore a sense of control, even when the situation itself cannot be changed.
When we understand these variations, we remember that helping young people stay healthy doesn’t mean expecting them all to act the same way. It means making places that can suit varied requirements while still being consistent enough for everyone to count on. When teens feel like they belong, they can frequently handle stress better.
When I deal with students and families, I’m often reminded that young people are smarter than we give them credit for. When parents change their habits, or the mood around them gets tense, kids notice. They typically know something is wrong when we try to keep them from having hard talks. They don’t always want an explanation in those circumstances. A sense that the grownups around them are stable.
Over the years, I’ve discovered that how we are with children is more reassuring than what we say. When adults are there for young people, are consistent, and are willing to listen, young people feel less alone with their anxieties. I’ve seen students calm down just because someone took the time to sit with them and listen to what they were going through or to keep a routine when everything else was up in the air. These little moments of connection can help you feel more balanced than explanations can.
These experiences have made me even more sure that mental health should be a part of every conversation about health and education. As debates around the world continue, including those led by the World Innovation Summit for Health, it’s vital to remember that young people become more resilient when they feel safe, connected, and understood when the world around them is hard.
When individuals are under a lot of stress, helping them feel better doesn’t always mean coming up with intricate answers. A lot of the time, relationships, stable surroundings, and communities that understand the emotional needs of kids and teens are what make the biggest difference. Young people are better able to deal with problems they can’t always avoid when they feel protected, heard, and supported.
For health professionals and educators, the goal is to make sure that mental health is always a part of planning, not just during crises. Schools, families, and health systems may work together to make sure that young people still feel safe in a world that is changing quickly.
We say that caring for the emotional lives of young people is not only an educational goal but also a human one that is important for establishing healthier and more resilient societies by making well-being the focus of health conversations.Chahnaz Baroudi is a Clinical Psychologist at Qatar Foundation. She helps children, teens, and families understand their emotions, manage challenges, and feel supported. She uses therapies like CBT, DBT, and trauma-informed approaches, and works with students with autism and learning differences. She also helps schools create supportive and inclusive environments. Chahnaz is the former President of the Lebanese Psychological Association.
