Behind the smile of a young person could be a silent struggle waiting to be heard. It is time we stopped demanding that young people remain strong in the face of every challenge and instead created environments where they can speak freely, seek support, heal, grow and thrive.
Across our communities, many young people are silently battling challenges that rarely make headlines. Some struggle with mental health concerns, unemployment, substance abuse, peer pressure, family conflicts, gender-based violence, academic expectations, poverty and the overwhelming pressure to meet societal expectations. Others grapple with rejection, loneliness, discrimination and the fear of disappointing those who believe in them.
Although these struggles are real and increasingly affect young people’s well-being, conversations around them remain limited. Many suffer in silence because they fear being judged, misunderstood or perceived as weak.
In many families and communities, discussing emotional distress is still misunderstood. A young person expressing sadness may be dismissed as weak, someone experiencing anxiety may be told to stop overthinking, while another struggling with depression may simply be advised to pray harder or become more disciplined.
Although faith, discipline and personal determination can provide important support, they should never replace understanding, compassion and appropriate professional help where necessary.
When young people lack safe spaces to express their challenges, they may resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms, including substance abuse, destructive relationships, social withdrawal and other risky behaviours. This makes it increasingly important to normalise conversations around mental health, emotional well-being and the everyday pressures facing young people.
Resilience Is Built, Not Demanded
Resilience is the ability to adapt, recover and move forward in the face of adversity. It does not mean that a person never experiences pain, fear, disappointment or failure. Rather, it involves developing the skills, support systems and inner strength needed to navigate difficult experiences without losing hope.
However, resilience should not be reduced to telling young people to toughen up, remain positive or figure life out on their own. It is cultivated through supportive relationships, mentorship, access to opportunities, education, emotional intelligence and an enabling environment.
We cannot meaningfully discuss building resilient young people while ignoring the circumstances that make their lives difficult. A young person struggling to access education, secure employment or meet basic needs requires more than motivational speeches. They need practical opportunities, responsive institutions and policies that address the realities they face.
True resilience is therefore not only an individual responsibility; it is also a collective investment in the social and economic conditions that enable young people to overcome adversity.
The Role of Families, Schools and Communities
The home should be a safe environment where children and young adults feel comfortable expressing their fears, ambitions, mistakes and disappointments without fear of humiliation or rejection.
Parents and guardians must learn to listen without immediately criticising, comparing or dismissing their children’s experiences. Sometimes, a young person does not need a lecture or an immediate solution. They simply need someone willing to listen, understand and reassure them that they are not alone.
Schools, teachers and lecturers also have an important responsibility in supporting the emotional and psychological well-being of learners. Academic performance does not always reflect what a student may be experiencing beyond the classroom. Educational institutions should therefore promote supportive learning environments, strengthen guidance and counselling services and encourage early identification of challenges affecting students.
At the community level, youth organisations, religious institutions, civil society organisations and local leaders must strengthen initiatives that promote positive engagement, talent development, entrepreneurship, mental health awareness and meaningful youth participation.
Equally important, young people should not merely be invited to attend programmes designed for them. They must be actively involved in identifying challenges, shaping interventions and implementing solutions that respond to their realities.
When young people are given a voice and the opportunity to participate in decisions affecting their lives, they develop a stronger sense of belonging, responsibility and ownership of their communities.
Breaking the Silence Is a Collective Responsibility
Breaking the silence should not become another slogan celebrated during commemorative events and forgotten thereafter. It must translate into sustained action, institutional commitment and meaningful investment in young people’s well-being.
Media houses have an important role to play by using their platforms responsibly to challenge harmful stereotypes, promote constructive conversations and tell stories that reflect the realities, achievements and struggles of young people. Rather than focusing only on sensational accounts of youth-related challenges, the media should also highlight positive experiences, resilience, innovation and pathways to recovery.
The private sector should equally invest in young people through internships, mentorship programmes, innovation hubs, entrepreneurship support and decent employment opportunities. Economic empowerment is an important component of resilience because financial insecurity and unemployment can intensify the pressures affecting young people’s lives.
Governments and development partners must also prioritise accessible mental health services, youth-friendly support systems, skills development and policies that promote inclusion and equal opportunities.
Young people themselves have a role to play. They should be encouraged to seek help when overwhelmed, build positive support networks, embrace continuous learning and recognise that asking for help is not a sign of weakness. Supporting one another, listening without judgement and speaking openly about difficult experiences can also contribute to healthier and more connected communities.
Ultimately, we must create a society where failure is treated as an opportunity to learn rather than a permanent identity; where asking for help is encouraged rather than ridiculed; and where young people are valued beyond their academic results, financial status, physical appearance or social media presence.
For the Afro-Arab Youth Council (AAYC), building resilient young people is inseparable from the broader pursuit of youth empowerment, peace, unity and sustainable development. Young people cannot fully participate in transforming their societies if their emotional well-being, dignity and lived experiences are overlooked.
A resilient generation is not one that never struggles. It is one that has the support, opportunities and confidence to rise above challenges without being forced to suffer in silence.
It is time to listen to our young people, create spaces where their voices matter and build communities where no young person feels they must fight their battles alone.
The author works with the Afro-Arab Youth Council (AAYC).
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