Professor says children face harder lives than older generations

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 14 Oct, 13:33 · Archive

Professor Peter Fonagy, who led a review of mental health in Britain, told MPs that younger people face greater pressures than previous generations.

Professor Peter Fonagy, who chaired the Independent Review into Mental Health Conditions, ADHD and Autism, told a Commons health and social care committee that children today face a tougher upbringing than previous generations. He said younger people experience growing financial pressures, insecure employment, unaffordable housing and incessant social comparisons, while receiving less support than their predecessors.

Professor Fonagy described calling young people a 'snowflake generation' as an insult. He argued that older generations use the term because they cannot face their own responsibility for the difficulties facing children. 'It's much easier for us to say they are a snowflake generation than for us to say actually we've really messed it up for them, and it's our fault,' he told MPs. He noted that older generations grew up expecting their lives to improve, whereas youngsters today face a bleaker future.

The review, which involved 120 top experts and was published last week, concluded that the rise in mental illness in the UK was real and linked to life becoming harder for young people. Professor Fonagy advised parents to stop criticising their children and instead reinforce positive behaviour, saying society needs to be 'less spiteful and less depriving' and 'far more encouraging' towards young people.

How it is being reported

• Britain’s top mental health expert tells parents ‘be less critical’ of kidsProfessor Peter Fonagy gives his advice to parents and tells MPs that calling young people a 'snowflake generation' is an ‘insult’ given what they go throughThe Mirror · 14 Oct, 13:19
• Children today face a tougher upbringing than 'privileged' older generations and are branded 'snowflakes' to ease guilt of having 'messed it up for them', MPs toldProfessor Peter Fonagy, who chaired the Independent Review into Mental Health Conditions, ADHD and Autism, said children face a bleaker future than their parents.Daily Mail · 14 Oct, 11:26

In this story: Professor Peter Fonagy · Independent Review into Mental Health Conditions, ADHD and Autism · UK

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