3 generational ‘differences’ that affect mental health

Mental health is a very important part of every human being's life. However, it is ignored the most. Starting from lack of awareness around this important discussion to reluctance in speaking about it, there are several unexplored routes that can ensure good mental health.

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We often talk about the importance of one's own family when it comes to mental health, but sometimes the generational differences within a family costs us a great amount of mental peace and happiness.

These differences are not just seen within families but are also prevalent in workplaces.

For people who belong to two different generations, co-existence is the only way out. However, sometimes the coexistence gets difficult when generation specific rules make it tedious for people belonging to different generations.

Young people are narcissists and older ones are wise; young ones are naive, older ones know everything; young people are kind, older ones are aggressive; there are several false beliefs that connect age to behavior without any logic.

"An emerging area of research in the field of Industrial-Organizational Psychology considers age-related beliefs from two different but intermingling angles. Work on age stereotypes looks at the content and impact of beliefs about people from another age group. A stereotype about young people, for example, might be that they are narcissistic," a Harvard Business Review report says.

This theory makes young people think that others think them as narcissists even when they are not.

These flaws are used proactively in workplaces and families generating a population of young masses who are constantly in self-doubt.

The current generation was born in that phase where technology had already entered our lives. The older generation experienced technology at a very later age, most probably when they did not feel the need for it. Those in the middle generation saw the world transition from non-tech to being tech savvy.

This makes the younger ones more dependent on technology which is often seen as a negative dependency by elders.

The generation which lives among passwords, screen locks and in a nuclear family set up needs more privacy than the one who lived in a house of 8-10 members.

Privacy is something our older generations do not understand, and this is where it creates a gap between them and the younger ones, who actually value it.

Neither of the generations understand each other.

While the traditional one believes that everything should be done under the aegis of a senior, the newer generation believes in making decisions on their own. They term each other ‘archaic’ and ‘wayward’.

A child watching mobile phones is seen as a bad behaviour, without even investigating what he or she was seeing in that. An older person saying anything about a kid’s mannerism or attire is termed as bossy and pushy.

The generational gap needs to be filled with understanding, proper knowledge of each other's generational rules, and the feeling of oneness.

Be it family or workplace, people belonging to two different generations should learn to co-exist. Despite the differences, there is a need to exist together.

It is pertinent to explain the intentions to each other. Let there be room for arguments but at the end of it emerge as a better person.

Do not get lost with false beliefs. Speak for yourself.