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The Race To Change: The Impact of Globalization on Mental Health

Written By: Gautham Mathur

Think of this: You’ve just got on the plane to go to your dream university in another country. While you buckle the seatbelt, your smile from the excitement slowly unwinds into a flatline as your mind imagines the nerve-wracking novelty of trying to fit in. Have you felt that? Well, I certainly have and I know anxiety is no stranger to it, especially as a teenager when you’ve already got enough problems on your back. As someone who has moved to a multicultural country like the United Arab Emirates and goes to an international school, I can understand how it can give you quite the imposter syndrome. On my first day, almost everyone I saw was from a different country – it was an eclectic buffet of cultures that was a bit too overwhelming. My anxiety clouded over me and clutched my incentive to connect with new people. At this point, I began to doubt whether moving was worth it if I felt like I didn’t even belong at all. My story is obviously only one of the many millions of experiences people have had during our planet’s transformation into a networked and interconnected centre of exchanges.

In modern-day society, students, workers, and virtually all demographics appear to chase after the golden fruits of globalization: better opportunities, more freedom, and enriched experiences of the world. With the growth in popularity of the internet and international trade, our world has become a beacon of change. The interweaved communication networks have empowered more transcultural psychiatry, which deviates from the stereotyped Western approach to the treatment of mental illness by giving clinicians a more informed understanding of how cultural nuances impact the acceptance of psychological well-being. However, is the transition to the revered global culture really that kind to our mental health?

In this week’s article, Mind4Youth explores how globalization has broken the boundaries to equitable access to diagnoses of mental health awareness but in doing so has allowed for mental distress to possibly worsen globally.

What’s the role of mental health in a rapidly changing world?

Mental health refers to a state of well-being in which an individual recognizes their abilities and can cope with normal stressors while contributing to events in their lives. But how does this link to globalization’s impact on us? Exponential changes in urban and economic conditions have pinned mental health down the priority list. For instance, according to a study by Villavicencio and Cervini in 2019, increased rates of immigration into developed countries have carried high rates of migration-associated mental disorders (Villavicencio & Cervini, 2019). Moreover, our psychological health is vital in order for us to live our daily routines and stay reminded about the beauty of life. 

Here are the two most common disorders caused by globalization:

Why could this happen to any of us?

The overbearing pressure to keep up with the demands of globalization is exhausting to manage. The key elements of this acculturative stress and surge in mental health conditions can be either economic inequality, poor distribution and access to clinical support, or the difficulty in upholding vocational expectations amidst a time when employers look for overtime workers. Alternatively, it could also be cultural differences and ethnocentrism that hinder a seamless integration into the global culture. Facing racism or other forms of discrimination, especially under the guise of a “joke” is usually the primary culprit. Acculturation gaps are also important, which are generational differences in acculturation and how this leads to conflict within the family. Immigrant parents and their children live in different cultural worlds, worsening identity confusion.

The future of global mental health

I know, I know. It’s hard to get past the cons but some advantages uplift multiple communities. For example, increased international exposure has enabled transcultural psychiatry to go into full swing by giving experts a chance to study the intricate relationship between culture and mental health. Likewise, this has inspired more targeted treatment of underrepresented demographics in this care. With the swift evolution of communication through breakthroughs in social media and communication, it’s now easier than ever for teens and young adults to locate sources to recover from the jaws of marginalization. The quality of mental health care and awareness have both improved, suggesting a more inclusive future for us all.

There’s always help!

While we now know that globalization opens up avenues for economic growth, social media popularity, and engagement, the weighting on psychological well-being shouldn’t be neglected. Facing these difficulties can be daunting and scary, with many people not knowing how to take their first step towards getting help with barriers like finances impeding their route to recovery. A commendable organization is NAMI, which provides free, plentiful resources and directories for teenagers and adolescents to reach out to for support. Moreover, Befrienders Worldwide also provides generous aid by looking for the closest helper near you. Many other resources exist, including hotlines, forums, and programs catered to individuals struggling with psychological challenges like depression or anxiety. Additionally, here are a few hotlines that you might want to keep in hand:

Nationwide, Every Night, 6 P.M. – 10 P.M. PST.

Monday – Friday, 10 A.M. – 10 P.M. ET.

Taking the next steps

The steps to feeling better are always challenging to overcome, but there are multiple ways in which you can get better. This includes coping strategies to reduce the feeling of being left out and the marginalization that social media and urbanization cause. Here are some techniques you can start incorporating into your routines to manage your well-being:

Remember: if you’re struggling, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. You can use the sources above (all of which are confidential and protect your privacy while giving you the best help possible) as well as several others online. For me, I used to talk with some of my friends back home about my new life and it helped me feel less alone. The pressure to continue racing against time and keeping up with the rapid transformation of the world is overwhelming for a lot of people, myself included. However, we’re in this together and while it’s difficult, change is something we can embrace together. Take a step back, and breathe. While the world paces around, slowing down to prioritize your health is the best thing you can do.

References:

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