Generation Z and Mental Health

1. Who Are Gen Z?

Generation Z (often shortened to Gen Z), also known as Zoomers, is the demographic cohort succeeding Millennials and preceding Generation Alpha. Researchers and popular media use the mid-to-late 1990s as starting birth years and the early 2010s as ending birth years. Most members of Generation Z are the children of Generation X or older Millennials. As the first social generation to have grown up with access to the Internet and portable digital technology from a young age, members of Generation Z, even if not necessarily digitally literate, have been dubbed 'digital natives'.

Born into a world drenched in economic inequality, climate crises, geopolitical strife, and multiple “once-in-a-lifetime” events, including the pandemic and various recessions, Generation Z has more unmet social needs than ever and they are more frequently diagnosed with behavioral disorders, addiction, and mental health conditions compared to previous generations.

2. Why Is Gen Z Facing More Mental Health Issues?

Ubiquitous Pressure

Generation Z is known as the anxious generation, experiencing particularly severe psychological stress. At the University of Alberta, for example, its website states that 35 per cent of students will experience a panic attack due to stress at some point, and mental health advisers on campus say requests for help with anxiety and depression are sharply rising. U of A sociologist Lisa Strohschein says that Millennials went through the Great Recession of 2008, ended up having to take jobs that weren't leading anywhere, and that has pretty much continued today…. If you're in a dead-end job, that's stress producing. Fears of missing out and the need for validation have become prevalent among Gen Z, contributing to higher rates of depression and anxiety.

High Social Media Use

Generation Z is the group that uses social media the most; in fact, 100 percent of Generation Z members claim to have at least one social media account. On one hand, growing up in a hyperconnected world can provide access to positive social connections and supportive resources. On the other hand, it can fuel a steady drumbeat of negative news stories, encourage unhealthy social comparisons and increase the risk of online harassment. Regular use of social networks can cause a number of problems in terms of brain development (memory loss, poor academic performance) or mental health states (e.g., anxiety, even depression).

Gun Violence and Social Issues

Nearly half (45%) of young adults ages 18 to 25 think their mental health is harmed by an overall “sense that things are falling apart,” and one in three (34%) say climate change is having a negative effect. A recent international study of 10,000 young people ages 16 to 25 also found that more than 80% were worried about the climate crisis, with many expressing feelings of sadness, anxiety, anger, and powerlessness.

Increased Screen Time and Isolation

In another poll, it was reported that almost half of Gen Z respondents reported being connected online for 10 or more hours a day. More screen time means less time spent connecting with others in person, which could increase feelings of isolation and loneliness. Being ultra-connected could also mean more pressure and expectations with less downtime (e.g., if doing school or work online).

3. Gen Z Is More Open About Their Mental Health

A study by the American Psychological Association found that Gen Zers are 27 percent more likely to report anxiety and depression. While they are more likely to exhibit psychological concerns compared to previous generations, they are also more likely to be vocal about their mental health concerns and using Self-help apps to seek help.

Unlike Millennials and Gen X'ers, who still belonged to a generation in which talking about mental health problems or asking for help was viewed as unusual or wrong, Gen Z are part of a cohort who doesn't feel that same stigma. This begs the question: why is there less stigma for this generation? Why has the stigma lessened in the era of Gen Z.

4. How to Help Gen Z

Setting Digital Boundaries

Avoiding the use of digital devices altogether is unlikely to be practical or helpful. Indeed, for many, they are not luxury items but the backbone of work, education, and leisure activities. However, setting boundaries around their use can help people develop a balanced relationship with technology. Setting digital boundaries can also improve life satisfaction and well-being by reducing exposure to anxiety and stress-inducing content online and allowing more time for offline activities, like hobbies and in-person socializing. Setting digital boundaries can help you balance your online and offline worlds, reducing the effects of excessive device use. This exercise will help you reflect on your digital habits and set clear boundaries to develop a healthier relationship with technology.

Mental Health Resources

The following resources offer a range of strategies that can be taken now by policymakers, administrators, funders, education leaders and educators, various service providers, advocates, families, youth, and others. At minimum, it will require multiple sectors: giving this issue higher priority; backing it up with adequate funding, policy and infrastructure; strengthening collaboration across organizations and sectors; increasing mental health services and supports, especially at schools; improving the diversity of and training for the mental health workforce; and focusing on equity and youth empowerment at every step.

• Youth Mental Health Report, National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
• 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and Federal Action Plan, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• On Edge: Understanding and Preventing Young Adults' Mental Health Challenges, Harvard Graduate School of Education