#Youth

Depression in the United States has reached a level that many health officials describe as alarming, with more than one in five adults either suffering from depression or receiving treatment in recent years. The trend did not appear overnight; it traces back to a sharp rise that began around 2020, a turning point tied to the COVID-19 pandemic but not limited to it. For Thai readers, the numbers offer a sobering mirror: mental health challenges are not confined to one country, and societies with rapid change, economic stress, and social fragmentation face similar pressures. The Newsweek reporting on U.S. data, drawing from polling by Gallup and insights from leading psychiatrists, underscores how broad, persistent, and multifaceted the depression landscape has become—and why Thailand should pay heed to these international findings as it refines its own mental health strategies.

A new study suggests that aggression can be learned through what we observe, not just what we experience directly. In a controlled animal experiment, researchers found that when male mice watched familiar peers attack intruder mice, the observers were more likely to display aggressive behavior later. The effect was tied to specific neurons in the amygdala, a brain region long known to regulate emotions and social behavior. Importantly, scientists could modulate this by turning those neurons up or down, which either amplified or suppressed later aggression. While the findings are in mice, they illuminate a neural pathway by which social context and familiarity shape how violence is learned and spread within groups.

A new wave of research is drawing attention to a troubling shift in how people across the globe experience happiness. Traditionally, surveys showed happiness climbing with age, as people gained stability, purpose, and resilience. The latest findings, however, point to a reversal of that pattern for younger generations, with mental health struggles taking a heavier toll on young adults in many countries. For Thailand, where family ties, community values, and the balance between tradition and rapid social change shape everyday life, the implications are profound: if the happiness curve is bending downward for youth, the ripple effects could touch schools, workplaces, and households in meaningful ways.

A new study from the Media Neuroscience Lab at the University of California, Santa Barbara, finds that teen gaming addiction is more likely to emerge from preexisting mental health issues than from gaming itself as a sole trigger. Researchers led by brain scientists Kylie Falcione and René Weber argue that adolescents who struggle with conditions such as depression, anxiety, or attention problems may turn to video games as a coping mechanism, which can escalate into addictive patterns over time. The finding challenges the idea that video games are a simple culprit and instead highlights the importance of looking at underlying emotional and cognitive vulnerabilities. For Thai families watching a surge in screen time among youth, the message is clear: effective prevention and treatment must begin with understanding each child’s broader mental health landscape.

A new international study from the University of Otago suggests that small, everyday habits can meaningfully lift daytime mood for young people. The research links better sleep quality with higher psychological wellbeing, while more frequent fruit and vegetable consumption and even modest levels of physical activity also contribute to a brighter sense of happiness. The lead author notes that improving sleep quality stands out as the strongest and most consistent predictor of next-day wellbeing, but dietary choices and activity play important supporting roles. In practical terms, that means a few simple changes could help millions of young adults not just cope with daily stress but thrive in a challenging life stage.

A new wave of research is drawing a clearer line between cannabis potency and mental health outcomes, suggesting that highly potent cannabis products may significantly raise the risk of psychosis, including conditions such as schizophrenia, as well as increasing the likelihood of cannabis use disorders. While the headline sounds stark, scientists emphasize that the story is nuanced: potency matters, but individual risk is shaped by age, frequency of use, genetic susceptibility, and the social environment. For Thailand, where conversations about cannabis are evolving and families juggle concerns about youth, mental well-being, and cultural norms, these findings land with urgency and a need for careful, compassionate action.

The American Bible Society released new data showing Gen Z adults score lowest for church engagement in the United States. (State of the Bible chapter 5 press release (State of the Bible Chapter 5)).

The study links higher church engagement with higher measures of human flourishing. (State of the Bible chapter 5 press release (State of the Bible Chapter 5)).

The finding matters for Thai faith groups. (State of the Bible chapter 5 press release (State of the Bible Chapter 5)).

Recent evidence suggests classroom mindfulness can help Thai students with attention, emotional regulation, and social skills. Yet researchers warn that benefits are not guaranteed and that careful design, monitoring, and evaluation are essential before any wide rollout. Short, kid-friendly practices show potential, but effectiveness hinges on age, delivery quality, and program structure.

Thailand’s schools face a timely opportunity to address widespread student stress and behavioral challenges. Meditation programs could expand support where access to clinical mental health services is limited, especially outside major cities. Yet premature, poorly designed adoption could waste resources or cause unintended harm. A measured approach—pilot programs, teacher-led curricula, robust outcome tracking, and clear referral pathways—offers the best path forward. Thailand’s Buddhist cultural familiarity with meditation provides a natural entry point, but expectations must be managed to keep education and faith distinct.

A new longitudinal analysis of UK cohort data finds that children who test as “bright” at age five but grow up in low‑income families maintain academic parity with richer peers through primary school, only to experience a marked drop in school engagement, behaviour, mental health and exam outcomes during the move to secondary school between about ages 11 and 14. The paper — based on the Millennium Cohort Study and reported in a working paper and later published in Research in Social Stratification and Mobility — shows large gaps by the end of compulsory schooling: bright children from poor homes are roughly 26 percentage points less likely to secure top maths GCSE grades and about 21 points less likely to secure top English grades than equivalently high‑scoring peers from the richest families, after statistical adjustments link to working paper/summary and link to journal listing. For Thai educators and policymakers watching aspirations and social mobility, the study raises a clear alarm: early talent alone is not enough; the school transition matters, and social disadvantage can erode promise during early adolescence.

A pioneering outreach initiative in Surrey, England is helping students who have been out of school for months overcome anxiety and regain confidence through gentle, animal-assisted education. The model pairs therapeutic activities with time spent with trained animals, creating a community-based approach that Thai educators and mental health professionals can adapt to address youth disengagement.

The Surrey program, run by a therapeutic education provider and funded by a countywide mental health investment fund, targets children and teens aged 7-19 who have been out of school for three months or more. Local health leaders have observed that participants are “overcoming anxiety and re-entering the world,” underscoring the potential of animal-assisted interventions to complement Thailand’s existing school counseling and mental health services. The initiative highlights how locally funded, community-driven strategies can be tailored to fit different cultural contexts, including Thai traditions of animal care and compassion rooted in Buddhist ethics.

Young people in Surrey who have been out of school for months are reporting reduced anxiety and renewed confidence after taking part in an outreach programme that pairs them with animals as part of a broader therapeutic education offer — a small-scale, community-led model that experts say reflects a growing international evidence base for animal-assisted approaches while also underlining the need for careful design, safeguards and evaluation before wider roll‑out in other countries, including Thailand. The Surrey project, run by therapeutic education provider Elysian and funded through the Surrey All‑Age Mental Health Investment Fund, supports children and teenagers aged 7–19 who have been away from school for three months or more by using “gentle, creative approaches — involving time with animals — to reduce anxiety and build trust,” according to Elysian’s inclusion and outreach lead, quoted in reporting on the programme BBC News. Surrey Heartlands NHS leaders who visited the scheme described observable improvements in young people “overcoming anxiety and getting back into the world” BBC News.

A viral compilation highlighting seven examples of old-age advice that feels out of touch has sparked global conversations about evolving economic, technological, and social realities. The debate goes beyond culture, touching housing, employment, education, and mental health. For Thai readers, the tension echoes scenes from Bangkok apartments to university campuses in Chiang Mai, where traditional expectations meet today’s higher costs and changing work lives. Data on housing, jobs, and education show that younger generations’ responses—often labeled as entitled or impractical—are rational reactions to real economic shifts.

Young people in Surrey, England who have been absent from school for months are experiencing remarkable reductions in anxiety and renewed confidence through an innovative outreach program that pairs therapeutic education with animal interaction, offering a community-based model that mental health experts believe could be successfully adapted for Thai cultural contexts while addressing the growing crisis of school avoidance among adolescents. The Surrey initiative, operated by therapeutic education provider Elysian and funded through a £10.5 million countywide Mental Health Investment Fund, targets children and teenagers aged 7-19 who have been out of school for three months or more, using what organizers describe as “gentle, creative approaches involving time with animals to reduce anxiety and build trust.” Local NHS leadership visiting the program have documented observable improvements in young people “overcoming anxiety and getting back into the world,” suggesting that animal-assisted interventions could complement Thailand’s existing school counseling and mental health services. The success of this community-led approach highlights the potential for culturally-sensitive adaptations that leverage Thailand’s strong traditions of animal care and Buddhist principles of compassion to address youth mental health challenges.

A viral internet compilation documenting seven instances where older adults offered advice that seems hopelessly out of touch with contemporary realities has sparked global conversations about widening generational divides that extend far beyond cultural differences to encompass fundamental economic, technological, and social transformations affecting how young people navigate housing, employment, education, and mental health. The widely-shared listicle, which began as entertainment, exposes deeper structural shifts that render traditional life strategies—“just buy a house,” “college guarantees success,” “tough it out”—not merely outdated but potentially harmful for younger generations facing unprecedented challenges in accessing homeownership, stable employment, and economic security. For Thai readers, this generational friction reflects familiar tensions visible across Bangkok high-rises, Chiang Mai universities, and family gatherings throughout the kingdom, where traditional expectations collide with contemporary realities of inflated housing costs, precarious gig economy employment, and evolving mental health awareness. Most significantly, comprehensive data from housing markets, labor statistics, and educational institutions demonstrates that younger people’s apparent “entitlement” or “lack of resilience” often represents rational responses to genuinely changed economic conditions that require updated strategies rather than moral lectures about character and persistence.

A viral roundup titled “7 times boomers proved they’re completely out of touch with reality” has reignited a global conversation about a widening generational divide — not just about attitudes, but about economics, mental health, work and the basic rules of adulthood VegOut. What began as a punchy listicle that lampooned tired advice — “just buy a house,” “college fixes everything,” “toughen up” — quickly exposes deeper structural shifts that make many older-era playbooks impractical or even harmful for younger generations. For Thai readers, the piece is more than internet schadenfreude: it holds up a mirror to similar tensions in Bangkok apartments, Chiang Mai co‑working spaces and family dinner tables across the country, and prompts a look at evidence from housing data, labour reports and mental‑health research that explain why younger people are frustrated, anxious and changing their life plans.

A shift is unfolding in Bangkok university counseling centers and rural temple courtyards alike. Thai students increasingly talk about “purpose anxiety” — the pressure to define a single transformative life mission. This reflects Thailand’s rapid modernization and the way traditional sources of meaning are evolving.

The urge to “find your purpose” dominates Thai social media, from inspirational quotes to career fairs promising life-changing opportunities. Yet experts warn this push can create more stress than clarity. A counseling psychologist at a major Bangkok university notes many students arrive feeling they’re failing because they haven’t identified a grand calling by age twenty.

Groundbreaking Spanish research reveals that children as young as twelve possess sophisticated understanding of adult content platforms like OnlyFans, viewing these digital marketplaces as viable alternatives to traditional employment while demonstrating alarming normalization of sexualized content consumption and creation. The comprehensive study involving 164 high school students aged twelve to sixteen exposes how hypersexualized digital culture fundamentally alters adolescent perceptions of economic opportunity, self-worth, and sexuality in ways that demand urgent attention from Thai parents, educators, and policymakers. These findings carry profound implications for Thailand, where social media adoption reaches extraordinary levels while conversations about online safety and youth mental health gain unprecedented urgency throughout communities nationwide.

A new study has raised alarms among parents, educators, and policy-makers after revealing that adolescents as young as 12 not only know about OnlyFans but view it as a potentially appealing and empowering way to earn money, setting it alongside or even above traditional work or educational pathways. The research, conducted in Spain and published in Sexuality & Culture, uncovers how the normalization of erotic content platforms is influencing how young people, especially girls, perceive economic opportunity, self-worth, and sexuality (PsyPost).

A new study signals a urgent need for Thai parents and educators as teens in Thailand increasingly encounter advanced concepts about adult content platforms and monetization online. Focus groups with students ages 12 to 16 reveal that digital culture is reshaping how young people view work, self-worth, and sexuality, with social media usage already running high across urban and rural communities. The findings underscore the momentum of online ecosystems and their implications for youth wellbeing in Thai society.

A strange new collectible has taken Thailand—and the global internet—by storm. Over the past few months, wild-eyed, snaggle-toothed little creatures known as Labubu have appeared dangling from backpacks, crowding keychains, and starring in viral YouTube unboxing videos. To many, their sudden popularity seemed to come from nowhere. The fever hit new heights after a famous K-pop star was spotted carrying a Labubu, instantly launching them into the imaginations and wishlists of a generation. Now, they’re the must-have item for young Thais and adults alike, with some rare versions fetching eye-watering prices in local and international collectible markets.

A new study in the Journal of Marriage and Family challenges the idea that money cannot influence love. The research suggests financial stability can make people more open to romantic relationships. Researchers from the University of Toronto and Carleton University analyzed data from more than 4,800 single adults in the United States and Germany. They found that higher income is linked to a greater desire for a relationship, a sense of readiness to commit, and a higher likelihood of entering a partnership.

New research published in the Journal of Marriage and Family challenges the age-old adage that money can’t buy love, suggesting instead that financial stability may be a key factor in opening people up to romantic relationships. The twin studies, led by professors from the University of Toronto and Carleton University, analyzed data collected from over 4,800 single adults in the United States and Germany. Their findings show that single individuals with higher incomes are not only more likely to desire a relationship, but also feel more prepared for one and, ultimately, are more likely to enter into a partnership (phys.org; University of Toronto news).

A new UK law requiring age verification on pornography sites aims to shield minors, but safety experts warn it may push curious teens toward riskier corners of the internet. Critics say stricter checks could drive youth to smaller sites with fewer safeguards, potentially increasing exposure to criminal exploitation and harmful content. As policymakers and parents debate how to protect children while recognizing young people’s online realities, the discussion has gained global relevance, including for Thailand.

A growing body of research, supported by recent personal narratives, is challenging the notion that being alone is synonymous with loneliness—offering hope and practical strategies for Thais grappling with these feelings in a hyper-connected world. Drawing from recent evidence and expert analysis, the new perspectives suggest that learning to appreciate solitude, rather than fearing it, can not only ease feelings of invisibility but also boost overall mental well-being.

The significance of this evolving understanding is underscored by both lived experience and hard data. As recounted in a popular piece published by VegOut Magazine, the author describes a journey from feeling “invisible” in crowds or isolated with only social media for company, to actively embracing solo time as a source of self-knowledge and fulfillment. The article draws on the Harvard Making Caring Common project’s research, revealing that 36% of Americans report “serious loneliness”, including 61% of young adults—most strikingly, many are not physically isolated but feel emotionally disconnected even among friends and family vegoutmag.com, mcc.gse.harvard.edu/loneliness-project.