Gen-Z Mental Health Awareness
The rise of mental health awareness has helped Gen-Z identify their own issues and seek help. The generation is more likely to speak openly about their struggles with anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder than past generations.
Mental health awareness has become increasingly important among Gen-Z, the generation born between the mid-1990s and mid-2010s. This generation has grown up in an era where conversations around mental health have become more mainstream and accepted.
With the rise of social media, mental health awareness has become more accessible, with platforms like Instagram and TikTok providing a space for people to share their experiences and connect with others who are going through similar struggles.
Life has brought a variety of stressors, creating more psychological concerns and greater need for mental health services. This is especially true among Gen Z, who are more likely than their older counterparts to have received treatment or gone to therapy.
1. They Are More Psychiatrist-Ready
The rise of mental health awareness among Gen-Z is one of the most significant societal changes in recent years. They’re more willing than older generations to talk about their feelings, openly seek therapy, and advocate for treating mental illness.
Often labeled as the “iGeneration” and the “Homelanders,” Gen Z is the third-largest American generation behind millennials and baby boomers. They grew up in a time of economic hardship, the COVID-19 pandemic, and watershed social changes.
These tweens, teens, and young adults face a lot of stress from the hustle-and-bustle of their everyday lives. As a result, Gen Z is more likely to have emotional and mental health problems than previous generations.
These mental health concerns can be a barrier to their education and employment, but if employers make it easier for them to access help, they’re more likely to do so. Fortunately, there are many resources available to help younger employees feel more supported at work. Getting them the right support can improve their mental health and even help them succeed in their careers.
2. They Are More Open to Talking About Mental Health
Gen Z is more open than previous generations to talking about mental health. In fact, 37% of Gen Z report that they have received therapy from a mental health professional.
The APA says this is because they are more aware of mental health issues and can express these concerns to their peers. They are also more able to use the language of mental health to describe their feelings, like depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation.
They are more willing to speak about their experiences to others because they feel it is a positive thing to do and it’s not seen as a weakness or a sign of a problem.
Young people have experienced many stressors during their lives, including increased gun violence, joblessness, student debt and political unrest, to name a few. These factors are all affecting their mental health.
3. They Are More Interested in Getting Help
Compared to other generations, Gen-Z are more interested in getting help when they feel like their mental health needs some extra attention. This is largely due to their social media connections that promote a culture of mental health awareness, normalizing asking for help and reducing stigma surrounding the topic.
One big reason for this is the amount of stress Gen-Z are experiencing. This includes school shootings, student debt and joblessness – all of which can affect their mental health.
Another reason is the way that social media influences their relationships and expectations of their peers. For example, Gen-Z often expect to be “friends” with everyone they follow on Instagram or talk to on Facebook, which can lead to issues.
This generation also faces some of the same social and economic challenges as older generations, including a lack of mentorship, according to Handshake’s survey of students and recent grads. They’re looking for benefits that help them balance work and life, such as 401k plans and company-wide mental health days.
4. They Are More Open to Therapy
The rise of mental health awareness has led to Gen Z-ers being more open to therapy. This could be due to the stressors they’ve faced that other generations didn’t have to deal with at a young age, such as school shootings and an introduction to social media.
It’s also because they have the awareness that their mental health can be improved with help. This knowledge will mean that they’ll be less likely to have emotional baggage as adults, and will be able to better communicate with their loved ones about their mental health.
Moreover, Gen Z-ers may be more open to therapy because they have the desire to live a happy life. They want to be able to travel and make friends and do the things that they love.
The social media world has helped Gen Z connect with others who are experiencing similar struggles and issues. They can read about others’ mental health issues and get inspiration for their own journeys.
In conclusion, the rise of mental health awareness among Gen-Z is a positive step towards breaking down the stigma associated with mental illness and promoting a culture of self-care and support. As this generation becomes adults and leaders in their communities, it is likely that mental health awareness will continue to be an important issue and lead to positive changes in the way we talk about and address mental health.