Why Young People Are Facing a Rights Crisis

Jan de Vries · 2026-10-09

Dr. Raj Joshi argues that young people in Britain are living through a rights crisis. It's not just about politics or policies. It's about mental health failures, economic insecurity, and digital harms. These forces are combining to undermine the basic rights of an entire generation. ### The Mental Health Crisis Mental health services are overwhelmed. Young people wait months for therapy. Many never get help at all. The result? A generation growing up with untreated anxiety, depression, and trauma. That's not just a health issue. It's a rights issue. Access to healthcare is a fundamental right. When it fails, young people suffer. ### Economic Insecurity Finding a stable job is harder than ever. Housing costs are skyrocketing. In the US, rent for a one-bedroom apartment in many cities averages over $1,500 per month. Student debt cripples dreams. Young people are told to work hard, but the system is rigged against them. They're left with insecure gig work, zero-hour contracts, and no safety net. Economic insecurity isn't just inconvenient. It's a violation of the right to a decent standard of living. ### Digital Harms Social media was supposed to connect us. Instead, it's a minefield of cyberbullying, misinformation, and unrealistic expectations. Algorithms profit from outrage and insecurity. Young people are bombarded with content that damages their self-esteem and mental health. The digital world is largely unregulated. That means young people are exposed to harms with little protection. It's a rights crisis hiding in plain sight. ### What Can Be Done? Dr. Joshi calls for urgent action. We need: - **Investment in mental health services** so young people can get help when they need it. - **Economic policies** that ensure fair wages, affordable housing, and secure jobs. - **Digital regulations** that hold tech companies accountable for the harms their platforms cause. But beyond policy, we need a shift in how we see young people. They're not just future workers or consumers. They're citizens with rights. And those rights are being violated. As Dr. Joshi puts it: "Young people are not asking for special treatment. They're asking for what's rightfully theirs." It's time we listened. ### The Bottom Line The rights crisis facing young people in Britain is a warning sign for the rest of the world. Mental health failures, economic insecurity, and digital harms are global problems. If we don't act, we risk losing a generation. And that's a cost none of us can afford.