Editor’s note: This article was first published in October 2023. It refers to 2022 suicide rates as the latest data available at the time. This article discusses suicide rates. If you are struggling or having thoughts of suicide, please contact your local emergency number or a crisis helpline in your country.
Why were our grandparents happier than we are? The question takes us to one of the biggest epidemics of our time: depression, anxiety and mental disorders. Some people think we can’t compare today’s mental health problems with our grandparents’ era, because back then mental health wasn’t given the importance it deserved. But there is one figure we can measure and compare: suicide rates, which have been recorded since 1906.
The rise in suicide rates from 1980 to the present day is a worrying indicator, because the suicide rates seen in 2022 have only been exceeded in post-war periods.
There is also the question of why roughly 80% of people who take their own lives are men, and why younger people and teenagers are also experiencing an increase in mental disorders and unhappiness.
Today’s rise in unhappiness has many causes
Many factors contribute to today’s unhappiness, including changing expectations and individualism in society:
- Our grandparents had a purpose in life centred on the family, whereas today people focus on the “me” and on individual goals.
- The pressure men face around success and financial status in relationships.
- The negative impact of social media and constant comparison in today’s society.
Well into the 21st century, we are talking about the annihilation of monogamous relationships and the traditional sense of family.
To sum up: our grandparents’ happiness was linked to solid family values, more realistic expectations and the absence of constant comparison with others, in contrast to today’s society, which focuses on individualism, unrealistic expectations and the negative influence of social media.
We could talk about many other factors, but the ones described here are added ingredients, and vitally important ones, in creating the perfect breeding ground for complete unhappiness.
Featured image: Robert Barnes, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
