In the midst of everything going on in society at the moment, between a global pandemic, the Black Lives Matter movement, Asian hate, homophobia, and the War on Reproductive Rights, the one thing that could bring us all together is kindness. Every person, no matter their identity, has a capability for kindness; however, not everyone understands its importance in creating a more accepting and less hateful society.
The lack of kindness in society is causing many people, especially youth, to feel like an outcast in their daily lives. Whether it’s at home, with their families, at school, with their peers, or any other situation, feeling like you don’t belong can lead to mental health issues a more divided society and nation.
Recently, more and more people feel like they can’t escape judgment don’t fit in because of social standards. Whether you are a different race or religion, your sexual identity isn’t “normal”, or your gender identity differs from what you were born as, someone always has something to say about who they are and the decisions one makes.
Many different factors lead to minority groups being unsupported, under-represented, and discriminated against in society, which is bringing depression rates up, especially in teens exploring their identities.
According to Mental Health America, the percentage of youth with major depression is growing. In the past year, 15.08% of youth experienced a major depressive episode, a 1.24% increase from last year’s data. In some states, 19% of youth ages 12-17 are experiencing major depression.
Sadly, over 60% of the youth population with depression nationwide do not receive any mental health treatment, even in the states with the most access to resources.
This trend is also leading to an increase in national suicide rates. According to a 2020 CDC report, the US average percent increase in suicide death rates among people ages 10-24 years old is 47.1%. That means suicide rates have almost doubled from 2007-2009 to 2016-2018.
Of course, this isn’t solely affecting minority groups, it happens to everyone. There is no way to make everyone happy. Someone will always be upset with something you do.
So what can be done about these statistics and these feelings? What can happen to stop this from happening? The answer is simple- kindness.
Being kind to the people around you is vital to creating a better society. Everyone needs a safe space to let out their feelings and emotions, even when it feels like the whole world is falling apart.
Kindness is the key to mending the separation between groups in the world. Loving everyone no matter who they are or what they identify as, and understanding that everyone is a living, breathing, person with feelings and emotions trumps all the hate in society.
Hate must end and kindness must be spread. Everywhere. After all, we’re all human.