“You better run for your life if you can, little girl Hide your head in the sand, little girl”
– Beatles, Run For Your Life
These lyrics, about 50 years old, are far truer now in a somewhat different context. ‘There’s no trust, why live, little girl’ could easily be the line that follows naturally. A global crisis of trust permeates our society, eroding faith in relationships, institutions, and even the future. Let’s delve into the repercussions of this crisis on mental wellness, exploring its impact and potential solutions.
Recent 2022 statistics reveal alarming trends:
- 30% of households are single-parent families.
- 50% of marriages end in separation.
- Only 30% actively follow a religion, while 30% claim none.
- Less than 50% trust elected leaders and courts.
- The majority fears technology’s impact on our future.
This crisis births emotional and behavioral issues, fostering a spiritual crisis characterized by:
- Stress, anxiety, and depression.
- Deterioration of physical and mental wellness.
- Loss of identity and purpose.
- Waning faith in traditional values.
- Loneliness, lack of belonging, and hopelessness.
- A pervasive loss of the will to live.
The Stark Reality
Most troubling is the prevalence of these issues among the youth, the bedrock of our society. Loneliness and a lack of purpose, once associated with the elderly, now afflict our future generations. In a webinar by Coacharya, Proffesor Varun Soni, Dean of Religious Affairs at the University of Southern California, shared how 10% of students aged 18 to 25 contemplate suicide, citing loneliness as a significant factor.
Traditional advice, like networking and belonging, falls short in today’s digital age. Social media, a virtual haven for the youth, paradoxically contributes to their despair. Likes and dislikes on these platforms shape lives, creating a toxic environment that traditional solutions cannot remedy.
Society and governments falter in addressing these issues, but individuals can make a difference. The crisis of trust stems from greed – selfish desires that rupture families, corrupt religions, and undermine governance. Gandhi’s words echo: “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.”
True wellness begins with acknowledging our interconnected needs. Can we prioritize understanding others and aligning our needs with theirs? The path to well-being lies in our collective ability to coexist.
Join the Conversation
Share your experiences in navigating mental wellness. What has worked for you? How can these blogs add value to your well-being journey? Let’s learn and grow together. Drop a comment in the section below or feel free to share your thoughts with us on CoachNook.
(Originally published on Coaching the Spirit – a LinkedIn Newsletter by Ram S. Ramanathan: How is a Crisis of Trust Leading to Mental Unwellness?)
Cover Photo by Nik Shuliahin 💛💙 on Unsplash