Today I received my poll card in the post, and it really got me thinking…

In Wales, you can’t buy alcohol or cigarettes until you’re 18. You can’t even get a tattoo. But at 14 and over you are asked to register to vote, ready for your first vote at 16, when you can vote for who runs the country!

Now, don’t get me wrong — I love that young people are being encouraged to get involved in politics. But it does make you smile, doesn’t it? From a holistic point on view we’re telling teenagers their brains aren’t fully developed until their mid-20s, yet somehow, they’re ready to decide national policy before they can order a pint or drive a car on the motorway.

Can’t drink, can’t smoke, can’t even buy fireworks… but sure, help pick the people making the laws about all of it. Brilliant.

There are huge pressures and expectations on teenagers.  So many of them now experience anxiety and personally I think this is yet another pressure they do not need to be burdened with so young.

The Guardian, in June 2025, shared results of a study which concluded that 1 in 4 young people have a mental health condition (anxiety, depression and other disorders) which is an increase of over a third in a decade, from 18.9% in 2014 to 25.8% in 2024.

What do you think — is 16 too young to entrust our younger generation with voting (when a lot of adults have difficulty choosing)?  Should we be trusting our teens with this level of responsibility when they have so many other responsibilities and challenges?

Oh well…time for a cuppa and a walk to refresh and let go of my unhelpful political related thoughts……wishing you a great day whatever you are doing.

If you or a teenager are experiencing anxiety and would like a complimentary consultation so I can share more with you on how I can help you – just get in touch. I have been helping people for over a decade and would be delighted to help you too – lisapryce-jones@outlook.com

Lisa

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