By Damiete Braide
Thrive: Mental Health Essentials For Young Adults, Adunola Adebote, Divine Touch Concept, 2024, pp. 124
The journey to adulthood is often portrayed as an exciting time filled with new experiences, opportunities and growth. But for many young adults, it is also a period marked by intense challenges, social pressures, academic expectations, career uncertainties and the growing responsibility of shaping their own lives. Layered beneath these surface challenges is a quieter but profound battle: the struggle with mental health.
Thrive: Mental Health Essentials for Young Adults, a 123-page book, is a guide for those seeking to understand and overcome the mental health struggles that can make young adulthood feel so daunting. This book is not just about surviving tough times but about cultivating resilience, finding balance, and embracing the full potential of this transformative stage of life. It draws on personal stories, expert insights, and practical strategies to help readers take charge of their mental well-being.
Through these pages, you’ll discover tools to navigate self-doubt, build healthy habits, foster meaningful connections, and find purpose amid life’s chaos. This isn’t a book about perfection or quick fixes; it’s about progress. It’s about learning to thrive, not in spite of challenges, but because you’ve learned to face them with courage and grace.
In the first chapter of the book, the critical importance of addressing mental health (MH) challenges in young adults opens up the discourse. Essentially, the book tells us this period of life is particularly vulnerable due to rapid changes in personal, social, and academic pressures. Factors, such as societal expectations, family dynamics, and the influence of social media are explored as contributing to issues like anxiety and depression. Further, it underscores the growing prevalence of these conditions among young adults and the need for early intervention, destigmatisation, and improved access to mental health resources to foster long-term well-being.
The discourse trickles down to focus on the crucial role parents play in identifying signs of mental health challenges in young adults in the next chapter. It discusses the behavioral and physical indicators, such as changes in mood, withdrawal, sleep disturbances, or appetite changes, that may signal distress.
The chapter also explores how traditional and cultural beliefs influence how mental health issues are perceived and addressed, contrasting these with modern, evidence-based approaches. Emphasis is placed on the importance of early intervention, creating a supportive environment, and equipping parents with the tools and knowledge to guide their children toward professional help and emotional resilience.
Adunola Adebote, the author explains how each of these factors impact the life of a young adult. Parental Expectations and Pressure: High expectations in academics or career can create undue stress, Dysfunctional Relationships: Conflict, lack of communication, or unstable family environments can impact emotional well-being.Neglect or Overprotection: Insufficient support or excessive control can hinder emotional development.
The chapters 5, 6 and 7 highlight the need for collaboration between families, peer groups, communities, professionals, and governments to tackle mental health challenges effectively, especially in six regions like Africa, where stigma and resource limitations are prevalent. Adebote takes on the importance of a shared responsibility among peers, community support systems, educational institutions, and religious organisations in driving change in mental health awareness.
She surmises that early intervention is crucial among peers who often notice behavioral changes and emotional distress early, making them crucial in providing immediate support or encouraging professional help. Peers can challenge stigma and foster a culture of empathy and understanding. Friendships and peer groups offer a safe space for sharing experiences and fostering emotional well-being.
The educational system is urged to offer counselling services to avail sufferers witn professional help to identify and support those affected .The religious organisations, too, are encouraged to join in the battle to provide spiritual support, Faith-based communities can offer emotional comfort and a sense of belonging, which is vital for mental well-being. Religious leaders have the influence to challenge cultural stigma and encourage individuals to seek professional help. In essence, combining spiritual guidance with modern psychological practices can provide a safe space.
Collaboration between these groups creates a robust network of support, fostering open conversations and improving access to care. A united effort amplifies the reach and impact of mental health awareness campaigns, driving societal change and making mental health resources more inclusive and effective. Mental health issues have a significant impact on the economy if left untreated. Mental health (MH) challenges and advocates for integrating mental health care into national budgets. It explores how untreated mental health issues lead to decreased productivity, increased healthcare costs, and societal challenges.It can impact productivity.
Citing case studies from Africa, Rwanda, by investing in mental health programmes, Rwanda has improved community resilience and reduced post-conflict trauma effects. Also South Africa’s Integration of mental health policies and technology-driven support systems has shown measurable improvements in citizen well-being and workforce productivity.
This enables the discussion to shift focus to the Role of Government Policies and Technology. The chapter underscores the need for African governments to allocate sufficient resources to mental health in national budgets, prioritising prevention and early intervention. With the integration of Technology through Digital platforms, like mobile apps and teletherapy access to mental health services can be improved, especially in remote areas.
She concludes by arguing that investing in mental health is not only a moral obligation but also an economic necessity for achieving sustainable growth and building a more prosperous and equitable society which hinges on the health of young adults. A mentally healthy population contributes to a more productive workforce, reducing poverty and enhancing societal prosperity. A self assessment quiz is included at the end to help readers reflect and practice self care and coping mechanisms.
The book, suitable to all, brings to the fore an important subject for all to ponder as the core of overall well being of life itself. Thrive: Mental Health Essentials for Young Adults walks the path on how to turn struggle into growth, fear into confidence, and uncertainty into hope.