Gen Z vs. Millennial Mental Health
Dr. William Beecroft, M.D.
| 5 min read
Dr. William Beecroft, MD, DLFAPA, is the Medical Dir...
Key Takeaways
- Gen Z adults report higher rates of mental health concerns like depression and anxiety than previous generations, according to research.
- Factors contributing to these struggles include economic instability, climate change concerns, isolation habits prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic and social media's influence.
- Despite these challenges, reduced stigma and increased access to online resources and telehealth should empower Gen Z individuals to seek support.
You don’t have to spend much time searching online to find surveys and studies that show poorer mental health among Generation Z — individuals born between 1996 and 2009 — than people from previous generations.
Research has found members of Gen Z are more likely to report mental health concerns such as depression and anxiety than previous generations. A 2022 survey of 1,055 Gen Z adults found one out of every four participants reported having more bad days than good within a one-month timeframe.
The same year, a Gallup and Walton Family Foundation report stated less than half of Gen Z individuals (47%) consider themselves as “thriving” in their lives – the lowest rates among any generation in the United States, and a lower rate than millennials at the same age.
While acknowledging the mental health struggles of younger generations, it’s important to recognize we couldn’t acknowledge them at all without their willingness to be vulnerable and report these struggles. As society’s stigma surrounding mental health fades, it’s important for young people to act on their willingness to speak out by seeking mental health care.
Why does Gen Z struggle with mental health?
A variety of stressors have contributed to mental health issues among Gen Z and younger millennials. Inflation, housing and job instability, climate change and other general uncertainties about the future are factors we regularly hear about and experience ourselves to different extents.
Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic uniquely impacted members of Gen Z, and to a lesser extent, Gen Alpha. The pandemic interrupted many critical milestones and traditions for them, as schools cancelled social events, switched to online teaching and delayed graduation ceremonies. Some students started college online, instead of in person. For Gen Z, the future was put on pause and research indicates it took a toll on their outlook. Isolation became the norm, and it’s a way of life that stuck around well after the pandemic ended.
A 2023 Forbes survey found that young people age 16 to 24 feel lonelier than any other age group, with 73% of Gen Z reporting they feel alone “sometimes or always.” Forbes speculates the pursuit of convenience is removing social interactions and producing loneliness. Loneliness can be as dangerous as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, according to the U.S. Surgeon General.
Social media’s increasingly tight grip on culture is intertwined with these factors and can often exacerbate them. Social media overuse manifests in harmful trends like doomscrolling and brain rot, trends that can be detrimental to people of all ages. But the “fear of missing out” and exposure to cyberbullying and social comparison are factors that uniquely affect young people.
It’s more acceptable to report mental health issues than ever before.
While research indicates more prevalent mental health concerns among Gen Z individuals than their millennial counterparts and older generations like Gen X and baby boomers, it shouldn’t be understated that the spreading of awareness over the past couple of decades has cultivated a society more prone to accept voicing mental health concerns, rather than shunning people who speak out or ridiculing them. Young people are more empowered to be transparent about their struggles compared to people of the same age 20 and 30 years ago.
Older generations viewed mental health issues as signs of weakness. There’s little research online comparing mental health statistics among older generations in real time. A lack of technology and research surely contribute, but it’s also because mental health stigma was so strong in the past that many people may have avoided acknowledging or reporting issues even if they experienced them.
And while social media has its obvious downsides, it does present a powerful platform. It is easier to broadcast mental health concerns than ever before thanks to social media.
Mental health care is becoming increasingly accessible for young people.
Help is available for those struggling with their mental health. Research shows young people are more likely than older generations to seek out ways to improve their mental health online. Gen-Z and millennial generations are more likely to seek out mental health resources through social media or online self-tools, according to a study.
While it’s always helpful to add new tools to your toolbox, the most effective route to take is to seek out clinical mental health services like therapy. Reaching out to your primary care provider and/or a mental health professional about therapy can be a monumental step in improving your mental health. Virtual therapy and telehealth have helped increase access over the years. Even teens as young as age 14 can receive mental health services in Michigan without the consent of their parent or guardian.
Steps you can take at home to improve your mental health right away.
In addition to professional help, these tips and lifestyle changes can improve your daily mood.
- Eat a healthy diet and drink plenty of water: A balanced diet and steady hydration is key.
- Prioritize sleep: Reduce screen and blue light exposure at least an hour before bedtime as you wind down and stick to the sleep schedule, even on weekends. Always aim for seven to eight hours of sleep per night.
- Get regular exercise: Even 30 minutes of walking per day can improve your mood and overall health.
- Practice gratitude: The National Institute of Mental Health says it can be helpful to remind yourself of things you are grateful for every day, and to be specific. Write these things down in a journal or replay them in your mind.
- Set social media limits: Practice cutting back on social media scrolling by setting a “cut-off time” before bed, turning off notifications, setting screen time limits within your phone and deleting some apps periodically.
- Focus on social connections: Make it a habit to reach out to friends and family members, who can provide emotional support and practical help. Don’t be afraid to talk about life’s problems with the people you are closest with.
- Be positive: Challenge thoughts that are negative and unhelpful and spin them into positives.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
