01/13/2026
The Kids Are Not Alright
In recent conversations with people in their late teens and early 20's, one thing has become very clear to me: the kids are not alright…….and they have a right to be.
I have never experienced or heard so much apathy from one age group in my entire life. And this apathy is grounded in reality, not a blanket sense of giving up……read on.
They are angry too....and rightfully so.
Apathy is defined as “lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern”
Many young people today struggle to find an interest, project low enthusiasm (often in school) and seem to have no concerns or have given up being concerned…. due to apathy.
I am a Registered Psychotherapist. My clients in their 20’s grew up during/survived the COVID-19 lockdowns.
The aftereffects of this are multi-faceted:
Under-developed social skills
Low accountability for task completion (my understanding was that “online school” was a challenge for teachers and students with huge gaps in learning created).
Awareness that little to no effort in school has little to no effect on passing courses and moving on to the next grade (“Nobody Fails”).
Heavy use of social media – impeding real-time social skills
Social media creating anxiety from FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
Social media as an outlet for contact, fun, laughter……and this became an addiction – have you ever tried to pry a cell phone away from a 16-year-old these days?? Good luck!
Then let’s talk about economics:
- Jobs are very scarce – youth unemployment is at an all-time high in Canada (12.8% in October 2025 – Stats Can)
- Young people are reluctant to enter post-secondary education for fear of graduating with huge debts and poor job prospects (not the case for all post-secondary programs, but certainly for many)
- Housing prices are out of reach for most, although there has been a slight cooling of prices recently, but still unaffordable for most (Average Toronto House Price $1,114,900.00 and for a Condominium $668,700 and for a 1-bedroom apartment to rent it’s $2326.00)
- With prices and rents like that – options are to either live with several roommates or live with parent(s).
- Voter apathy in this age group is also at an all-time high – one would suggest that young people do not see themselves represented in the current crop of leaders/parties or their concerns are not in the election discourse.
Finding oneself in this stuck place….no school, no job….now what?
But let’s flip the coin:
There are young people today who are thriving….so what is the difference?
Social Connection – in REAL TIME, i.e. Face to Face
o A rise in Social Anxiety from the pandemic is making this a challenge for many young people.
Being part of a Larger Community
o i.e. the neighborhood, the town, the city
o getting involved in activities and volunteering
Adapting to Change – and change at a very rapid pace
o Your mother or father may have had the same job for 30-40 years
o Much less likely today as jobs change or disappear due to technological shifts
Basic Adaptive Toolkit for the Workplace:
1. Robust social skills
2. Robust emotional skills
3. Digital literacy
4. Strong foundations in literacy and numeracy
It is certainly not the world of the 1960’s or 1970’s…..or even the 80’s for that matter. To thrive and break the cycle of apathy, the key is adaptability.
Dave Neary, R.P.
Kingston, ON Canada
