Why kids today feel so 'emo'

In this article written by Federal MP Lindsay Tanner, he provides his thoughts about some causes of emotional harm among teenagers.

Since the suicides of two teenagers in Melbourne who were part of the Emo subculture, some people have been quick to point the finger at this group as one which they believe "celebrates self-harm and glorifies suicide".

Tanner believes that it is difficult to know whether being part of the Emo subculture influences teens to commit these acts, and that greater attention should be paid to the underlying causes of teen depression such as bullying and exclusion from others.

He says that "kids choosing an odd subculture just to be different is one thing, but if it is an escape from an unhappy world of bullying and humiliation it's an entirely different thing."

I think that this is a very valid point, because it can be too easy for groups such as the media to blame a music subculture on the actions of teens, when the real root of the problem isn't investigated. I question how many people gravitate towards being part of the Emo subculture because they are unhappy, as opposed to those who are part of this group because of its accessibility and to be among like-minded people who enjoy similar music tastes.

Another issue that Tanner raises is that society places too much importance on individual success, which can cause many teens to feel inadequate.

He believes that parents should take a greater role in being responsible for the behaviour of their children, as schools can only do so much to prevent bullying.

Source: http://www.lindsaytanner.com/articles/070612_HS_Emo.pdf