Is life harder for today’s youngsters?

ALMOST a quarter of young women in Scotland have selfharmed, a national health report has found. The annual Scottish Health Survey found 23% of women aged 18 to 24 reported self-harming, compared to 13% of men in the same age group. Do you think life is tougher for young people today than it was 20 years ago? What do you think are the reasons youngsters might find life difficult? And what did you worry about in your younger years?

LIFE was much simpler when we were young. Peer pressure, lack of self-esteem and social media have all played a role making life harder today. Education today does not prepare youngsters for the life skills to cope. Bea Smith,Doncaster.

WHAT I think doesn’t help is aspiration to be the best. This does not work for all. And youngsters can get trapped in low-paid jobs, too. Eddie Robertson, by email.

THEY get the impression it should all come to them on a plate, instead of the hard graft that is necessary to achieve. They then feel they are a failure. Elizabeth O’Regan, Lincoln.

I THINK young women are under constant pressure about their looks, their weight and their relationships. There is little continuity in their lives, as they go from one relationship to another and often get very little support. I think this is getting worse. Liz Kelly, Glasgow.

WHEN I was younger, I worried about keeping out of trouble and what was for tea! Life isn’t tougher now, but it is different. There are lots more intrusions in a young person’s life. Ronald James, Angus.

NO, life isn’t tougher. But youngsters now have a lack of self-discipline and no backbone. Everything is made easy for them. James G. Plenderleith, Edinburgh.

LACK of jobs and finance contribute to a lack of respect. Sadly, there is less parental guidance, too. My only worry when I was younger was where I would work. But amazingly, we had choices back then and we didn’t have machines and computers doing us out of jobs. Irene Thomson, Perth.

CHILDREN aren’t allowed to be children any more and on the whole there is more pressure on young people today. I grew up through the 50s and 60s and can honestly say I had no worries. Steven Richardson, Highland.