Unpacking GenZ and Mental Health
Generation Z was born between 1997 and 2012 and currently (2024) includes the ages 12-26.
This generation has the highest number of people impacted by anxiety and depression. This number surpasses the Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, and Generation Alpha. Generation Z has experienced many life-altering events, including the Iraq and Afghanistan war throughout most of their lives, and current wars in Ukraine and Russia as well as Israel and Palestine. Their childhood and adolescence have been marked by mass shootings, marriage equality, school debt, climate change, the terrorist attack on 9/11, and the impact of COVID-19, a pandemic that disrupted and reshaped their education like no other generation has experienced. These events have created a significant impact on Generation Z from a lack of social connections, technological comfortability, an emphasis on mental health, a commitment to authenticity, and importance placed on boundaries and balance. Let’s dive into some of these a little deeper.
Social Media
Social media has become an integral part of Gen Z's daily life. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat offer avenues for self-expression, connection, and community building. However, they also create an environment ripe for comparison, cyberbullying, and unrealistic standards.
Academic and Career Pressures
Gen Z is often hailed as one of the most educated and career-driven generations. While ambition is commendable, it can also lead to excessive stress and burnout. The pressure to excel academically, secure a lucrative career, and "make a difference" in the world can take a toll on mental health.
Navigating Identity and Relationships
As a generation known for its openness to diversity and inclusivity, Gen Z is reshaping societal norms around identity, gender, and relationships. However, this journey of self-discovery and acceptance can also be fraught with challenges, including discrimination, identity confusion, and strained relationships with family and peers.
Breaking the Stigma
Despite increased awareness and advocacy efforts, mental health stigma persists, particularly among younger demographics. Gen Z faces unique barriers to seeking help, including fear of judgment, lack of access to resources, and cultural taboos.
While Gen Z has the highest reported number of anxiety and depression, members of this group are 37% more likely than older generations to seek out mental health counseling. On a positive note, Generation Z has normalized mental health treatment as they have grown up in a world where it’s normal and considered natural to get treatment for mental health problems. Social media has helped this generation to destigmatize mental health concerns resulting in older generations being “called out” for unacceptance. As parents of Generation Z’s, we can learn much more about mental health if we listen to our children rather than quickly changing the subject as was sometimes normalized in earlier generations.
Here at Atlanta Wellness Collective, we want to help. For support, contact us or request an appointment online.
This blog post was written by Angie Fowler, MS, M.Ed, LPC.
Disclaimer: This blog is not intended to substitute professional therapeutic advice. Talk with your healthcare provider about your health concerns and before starting or stopping therapies. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct professional advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
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