My Weekend Insights – 18th April, 2026
Generational Entitlement – A Silent Contributor to Mental Breakdown
By Sabiiti Herbert
We have all heard the sad stories. Young people, especially in Europe, taking their own lives. Now that dark cloud seems to be moving closer to home—into Africa, and even here in Uganda. More and more young people are experiencing mental breakdowns. A small disappointment happens, and for them it feels like the world has ended.
Let me be honest from the beginning: I am not a psychologist or doctor. I am simply someone who observes life closely and mentors young people. And I have noticed something troubling.
Generational entitlement could quietly be feeding this mental crisis.
Many young people today—especially those from comfortable homes—have grown up believing that life is linear. They assume progress always goes up and never down. They expect good schools, good jobs, a good lifestyle, and constant comfort.
But life has never worked that way. When the first real trouble appears—losing a job, failing an exam, heartbreak, or financial hardship etc many young minds struggle to cope. They were never trained to face adversity. And when the pressure comes, the mind gives way.
The shock of reality becomes too much to bear.
Older generations were raised differently. Most of us grew up knowing that life could be tough. We saw our parents struggle. We walked long distances to school, sometimes carrying small notes saying “please allow.”
Teachers were tough. Home could sometimes feel like a battlefield. When your father appeared, everything went silent—no unnecessary noise. Those experiences built strength.
But today, some young people grow up surrounded by comfort without emotional toughness. When life’s difficult moments arrive—and they will arrive—they interpret them as the end of the road.
Yet the truth remains simple: struggle is part of growth.
The successful people we admire today—great leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators—all faced failure at some point. Failure is not the end. Often, it is the beginning of wisdom.
That is why parents, teachers, and mentors must intentionally teach the next generation resilience, patience, and humility.
Entitlement produces weak minds while Resilience produces strong people.
As we raise the next generation, let us give them more than opportunities. Let us also give them the inner strength to survive life’s storms.
Because one thing is certain:
Life will test everyone.
What matters is how prepared your mind is when the test comes.
Comfort can raise a child, but only struggle can build a strong mind.