Midlands Voices: ‘Help, I need somebody,’ Americans are suffering, there is help available

By Rick Galusha

Today, it seems we are bombarded with existential threats to human existence, including climate change, the next presidency, illegal immigration, unscrupulous media reporting, and the next pandemic. Since the 2020 pandemic, Americans are suffering from increased levels of anxiety.

In his latest book, The Anxious Generation, author Jonathan Haidt examines how social media and isolation have negatively affected Gen Z, those ages 12 to 27. In an era of “safetyism,” where parents hesitate to let children walk to the end of their driveways without supervision, children are safe at home but released on the internet, where pornography, bullying, hate groups, and other high-risk behaviors are a click away.

Help, I need somebody. – The Beatles, “Help”

Haidt finds that America’s next generation of workers are emotionally isolated and suffering from diagnosable mental illnesses, including depression, anxiety, and ADHD. Symptoms include being socially awkward, demotivated, unable to focus, self-harm, and suicide. Described as a “surge of suffering” in Haidt’s previous book, The Coddling of the American Mind, mental illness is rising rapidly and affecting college students at unprecedented rates, including anxiety (25%), depression (20%), and ADHD (7%.) Self-harm and suicide levels have risen dramatically since 2010. This “rewiring” is allegedly caused by overexposure to electronic devices, including smartphones.

The U.S. Surgeon General’s report, Social Media and Youth Mental Health, finds that 95% of youth aged 13 to 17 say they “almost constantly” are engaging in social media. The American Psychological Association issued Health Advisory on Social Media Use in Adolescence, discussing ways parents can, you guessed it, protect their kids from the effects of social media and the anxiety that accompanies it.

When I was younger, so much younger than today…I never needed anybody’s help in any way.

And for the second year, The Walton Family Foundation’s Voices of Gen Z Study 2024 reports that merely 51% “of Gen Z are thriving in their lives.” Of these, 79% of the next generation of workers “agree they have a great future,” while only half report feeling prepared for that future.

And just in time for the election, Iran, along with China and Russia, are, once again, using social media to spread conspiracies, provoke activists with fake news, heightening division and elevating social anxiety. And although outlets like the Omaha World-Herald, FactCheck.org, RealClearPolitics, PBS, and SNOPES actively debunk political stories and quotes, efforts to undermine American self-confidence and trust in the system are working.

But now these days are gone, I’m not so self-assured…. Now I find I’ve changed my mind and opened up the doors.

Amid this distrust and anxiety, the Pew Research Center found that 41% of respondents reported that the American Dream was once possible but no longer achievable. Gallup reports that 87% feel American morals are “only fair” or “poor.” As anxiety goes up, support for representative democracy, such as ours, is increasingly questioned. Support for authoritarian leaders and autocratic regimes is rising in the USA and numerous other nations. According to Pew, 74% of Americans feel that elected officials “don’t care” what people like us think.

But every now and then, I feel so insecure. I know that I just need you like I’ve never done before.

Recently, I became aware of efforts to help, including a 24-hour crisis helpline, by dialing 988. On September 28th, the suicide awareness and mental health Out of the Darkness walk and fundraiser will take place at Stinson Park. Bridges to Mental Health trains medical practitioners to heighten mental health awareness among medical practitioners. Omaha’s Kim Foundation “serves as a supportive resource and compassionate voice for lives touched by mental illness and suicide.”

Help me if you can. I’m feeling down, and I do appreciate you being ‘round.

Help me get my feet back on the ground. Won’t you please, please help me!

Rick Galusha, Ph.D., teaches political science. He hosts a blues radio show and is a member of the Iowa and Nebraska music halls of fame.

Reprinted with permission from the Omaha World-Herald.