Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, drawing attention to the young generation growing up in the digital world, being much more aware of everything and constantly questioning, said that young people, whom he believes will make positive contributions to the world's development, need the guidance of wisdom. Tarhan emphasized that Gen Z currently holds the power to influence politics, stressing the need to speak the same language as this dynamic, energetic, but often lonely generation.
Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Founding Rector of Üsküdar Üniversitesi, made important evaluations, stating that it is significant that the World Health Organization chose "Changing world and youth" as the theme for World Mental Health Day this year.
Gen Z sabotaged Trump
Emphasizing that the topic of the changing world and youth in mental health was chosen for World Mental Health Day this year, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan continued his words as follows:
"As highlighted by the General Directorate of Public Health, psychological resilience and durability were chosen. One of the reasons for this choice is Donald Trump. Last June, Trump launched his post-pandemic election campaign. There was a large sale of tickets for the campaign. The venues were supposed to be full, but when they arrived at the stadium, they saw only about a third of the expected attendance. When the reasons for the low turnout were investigated, it was realized that Gen Z youth had formed a group on TikTok, causing people to buy tickets even though they had no intention of attending. A tremendous offside situation occurred, and this event was reflected in the press. In a way, they sabotaged Trump."
There is also an example in the Ottoman Empire
Drawing attention to Gen Z's influence in many countries around the world, Tarhan said, "Despite the frightening climate of religious radicalism and religious fascism concerning human rights, there is a Zoomer generation in its geography that has received the Nobel Peace Prize... Malala Yousafzai, a 22-year-old human rights activist. She is a very good Zoomer, an internet activist. Youth overturned religious radicalism and religious fascism. A generation thinking like this is emerging from all directions. On the other hand, Gen Z, known as Zoomers in the US, will influence elections in America. Gen Z has the power to influence politics; we are seeing this. We even saw this in the late Ottoman period, so it's not a surprise. Sultan Abdülhamit carried out many construction activities, protected people, and even ensured that many did not become orphans. However, the generation he raised deposed him, and the second generation ended the Ottoman Empire. Abdülhamit raised and protected the youth but failed to speak the same language as them. This generation has the power to influence politics. There are lessons to be learned from this."
It is necessary to speak the same language as young people
Drawing attention to the need to grasp the language young people understand, Tarhan continued his words as follows:
"The current young people are the first generation in human history born in a digital environment. Due to their characteristics, they are natives on social media, while we are immigrants. There was a television generation, a radio generation; social media has now become a very important reality of our lives. This social media generation is changing people's behavioral patterns. A second characteristic of this generation is that they are not conservative about race at all. When you look at Gen Z youth, they form a tremendous group without any black-white distinction. When you look at K-POP, they even disregard and reject sexual identity. Their third characteristic is that they question everything. They don't believe without questioning. If we want to establish contact with this generation, we need to succeed in speaking the same language as them. It is not possible to correct their behavior by wagging a finger or challenging them, because older generations tried to reach psychological maturity amidst scarcity. But this generation has to achieve psychological maturity amidst abundance. Special methods are used to reach psychological maturity amidst abundance. This generation needs to be taught psychological maturity, strength, and resilience. They are an extremely conformist and extremely egocentric generation. They see the world as revolving around themselves. They are intelligent, and emotionally intelligent too, but they need to develop skills in resilience and delayed gratification. If we fail to do this, Gen Z will become a lost generation."
Youth want freedom, peace, equality, and justice
Also drawing attention to the increasing suicide rates in the USA despite high material prosperity, Tarhan concluded his words as follows:
"In old age, loneliness has increased, antidepressant tablets are sold like bread and cheese. There is no spiritual and mental well-being. Therefore, additional projects are being carried out. For whom does technology exist? Is it for humanity in general, or to dominate the world, for power centers and global capital to survive? The USA uses 25 percent of the world's resources. This is not sustainable, cannot bring global justice, and will explode somewhere. Young people are more aware of everything; they are constantly questioning. I believe that young people will make positive contributions to the development of the world. But on this path, they need the guidance of wisdom. They are well-intentioned, but if options are not presented to them, they will get lost in error. Instead of being cruel and merciless, they want to be free. Freedom, liberty, equality, justice, and brotherhood. They want justice and peace. That is why it is very significant that the World Health Organization made 'Changing world and youth' the theme of World Mental Health Day during this period. The 16-24 age group is dynamic, energetic, but lonely. They are enslaved by digital addiction. We need to speak the same language as these young people."