Mental Health & Vulnerability
This month we are highlighting Mental Health and its relationship to vulnerability & exploitation. The term vulnerability is the sense of “fragility” and is a widely used term in many areas such as law, the environment and mental health- just to name a few. The nature and extent of someone’s vulnerability can change over time, in response to social, environmental and personal factors. Poor mental health is just one example of this.
I (Cathy) grew up in the 60’s & 70’s, when taking care of your health (physical or mental) was not emphasised. In recent years, the recognition of mental health and its impact on every area of our life is now widely accepted. However, as with most things, there is a wide range of opinions on how to take care of it. While we at DP are not experts on mental health, the research shows that poor mental health is closely linked to experiencing vulnerability and increased risks of exploitation.
Life has always been full of stressors, but today 1 in 3 Canadians will experience mental illness in their lifetime. While this statistic is at an all-time high, I think every single person can relate to feeling ‘fragile’ or ‘vulnerable’ at some point in their life. It’s easy to suggest that going back in history to a ‘simpler’ time would be the answer to life’s stress and struggle. The truth is, humans have always dealt with mental illness, but it seems we are more aware and accepting of it today. That being said, we still have a long way to go and new factors such as social media, seem to be making this more challenging.
Today, studies show that spending too much time on social media can actually cause anxiety and depression. It puts a distorted lens on appearances and reality, offers instant gratification, encourages constant comparison, and lowers self-esteem- all things that contribute to poor mental health. We are raising a generation of young people on apps that make them believe that they are not good enough, which leads them to seek validation in other areas of their lives. McClean Hospital writes, “It’s a very vulnerable population to have access to something where there is no stopgap before they post or press the send button. I think that’s something of which to be mindful.” Predators prey on the vulnerability in young people that social media (for example) can negatively contribute to.
On the flip side, social media in particular has revolutionized how we share information and communicate. In recent years, it has become a platform for different social justice movements and real-time news that, in the past, would have been nearly impossible for the general population to access. I believe we live in an incredible time in history, where we are more connected and informed than ever before, and that we can harness these tools for good. Even though we see the negative impact that social media can have on children and youth, we have chosen to use social media as a powerful tool of communication to get our message out and make a difference.
We want to bring attention to the connection of mental health and vulnerability to exploitation, in the hopes of raising awareness for this generation of young people. Our goal is to shine a light and provide trusted resources so that more people can enjoy the benefits of good mental health and lower their risk of vulnerability, thus preventing exploitation from ever happening. Check out our Resource Page to learn more!
