Experts in Psychology Highlight the Psychological Suffering of Young People
Experts in psychology emphasized this morning, Friday, that the psychological suffering of young people stems from the fragile family, economic, and political systems in which they live. These statements were made during an international scientific conference held at the National Library in Tunis, under the theme: "The Vulnerability of Young People."
Key Factors Contributing to Psychological Suffering
During this two-day conference, organized by the Department and Laboratory of Psychology of the Faculty of Human and Social Sciences of April 9, in partnership with the Tunisian Association of Psychology, experts considered that:
- The weakness of the educational system (which has exacerbated school failure, dropout, and declining results)
- The fragility of economic systems (which generate unemployment and low purchasing power)
- The weakening of the family system (caused by a lack of communication and supervision) are all destructive factors for young people.
The Impact of New Technologies on Family Systems
Samia Ben Youssef, assistant professor of work and professional orientation psychology, explained in this context that family systems in Tunisia and other societies are now suffering from vulnerability due to excessive use of new technologies. These technologies have forced their members to live in isolation, with a marked decline in communication, expression, and sharing of mutual concerns. She emphasized that this situation leaves young people without psychological and social supervision and pushes them to consider that success is limited to material aspects and spectacular appearances, as promoted by social networks. She added that the inability to imitate these models causes frustration in young people, installing psychological vulnerability and leading to risky behaviors.
The Concept of Vulnerability
Ahmed Khouajine, professor of higher education in sociology, specified that the word "vulnerability" (or "fragility") is of Latin origin and means in medicine "a wound in the body and a wound in the soul." According to his approach, this perfectly translates what today's youth are experiencing. This situation pushes young people to develop adaptation strategies to cope with this vulnerability, uncertainty, and marginalization. These solutions can sometimes be destructive (drug addiction, suicide, irregular migration, or crime) or sometimes positive (perseverance in studies, engagement in private economic initiatives, etc.).
The Need for National Policies and Youth Involvement
Salah Eddine Ben Fadhel, professor of psychology, insisted that reforming the situation of young people begins with the development of national policies that take into account their vision of the future and their psychological state. It is also essential to involve them before developing these policies and to consider their proposals regarding the reform of economic, political, and educational systems. He finally emphasized the need to make an accurate diagnosis of the current situation of young people, based on rigorous scientific studies and research. Only from there can effective national policies and strategies be developed that meet the fundamental and real needs of this category of the population.
