Are Mental Health Issues on the Rise in Gen Z?
Written By: Aly Vredenburgh 6/23/24
As members of Gen Z (those born roughly between 1997 and 2012), we’ve gotten a lot of hate in the media. People call us the “snowflake generation,” accuse us of having no resilience, and point out our “emotional immaturity.” We are known for being lazy and quitting our jobs unexpectedly, and worse, employers admit to avoiding hiring us because of our bad reputation.[ii] As young children, we were told we are as unique as snowflakes—all of us were so different and special, and we received trophies for almost everything. While each of us is special, we cannot ignore the fact that people are talking about how over-sensitive we are…it has to mean something, right? In recent years, concern about the mental health of Generation Z has increased significantly. Data and personal anecdotes alike suggest that this younger generation is experiencing mental health challenges at a higher rate than previous generations at the same age. But what’s behind this trend, and is the system equipped to handle it? Insights from the book Out of Focus help us understand these dynamics.
The Escalating Crisis
Members of Generation Z are the first true digital natives, growing up in an era of smartphones, social media, and constant connectivity. While these technologies have brought about significant benefits, they also come with controversy over the ways in which they’ve affected us. Studies and surveys consistently point to an increase in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues within Gen Z, but the causes are yet to be investigated. Currently, an estimated 50 million people in the U.S. suffer from mental illness, with a significant portion being unable to access necessary treatment due to prohibitive costs, and lack of access to needed treatments. Teens and young adults are reporting high rates of anxiety and depression, with young adults experiencing an increase of about 63% from 2005 to 2017. These rates may be the highest levels in recent history. The suicide rate among young people, particularly those aged 15 to 27, has become a leading cause of death, suggesting we are in a crisis. The systemic nature of several interacting issues, combined with the stigmatization of mental health, continues to leave too many young people without the support they desperately need. We have been routinely misled to believe that mental illness is an individual problem. As a society we blame people for their mental illness, and expect them to seek help on their own. The solutions our leaders have provided are more money thrown at it, more therapists, and more psychiatrists–but the problem with that is it is failing to address the root causes of this crisis. The following highlights some of the topics I cover in depth in my book where I discuss why we got here, and how we can drive meaningful solutions.
Systemic Failings Highlighted in “Out of Focus”
The book Out of Focus outlines several systemic issues that often interact, and contribute to the worsening state of Gen Z’s mental health:
1. Stigma: Despite increasing awareness, there’s still significant stigma attached to mental health issues. This stigma can prevent young people from seeking help due to fear of judgment or misunderstanding from their peers and adults.
2. Inadequate Resources and Access: There’s a stark lack of accessible/adequate mental health services tailored for the unique needs of younger people. Many cannot afford the high costs of therapy, and even those who can often face long wait times and shortages of specialized care providers.
3. Failure in Early Intervention & Misdiagnosis: Early signs of mental health issues are often overlooked or misdiagnosed. This delay in proper diagnosis and treatment can lead to more severe problems down the road.
4. Overemphasis on Medication/Big Pharma Corruption: There is a troubling trend towards prescribing medications as the first and sometimes only treatment option, without adequate consideration of therapy or other non-pharmacological interventions.
Root Causes Explored
My book also dives deep into the root causes specific to Gen Z’s mental health crisis:
1. The Loneliness Epidemic: Despite being the most digitally connected generation in history, Gen Z reports high levels of loneliness and isolation. Loneliness is highly correlated with poor mental health outcomes. Loneliness has been an issue many have faced throughout history, however society’s declining levels of trust, and cultural shifts towards individualism have impacted our generation.
2. Economic Stress: Financial uncertainties, including concerns about job security, college and loans, and the impact of the 2010 economic recession, weigh heavily on our generation, contributing to our mental health struggles. Most of us will not have the financial stability of our parents, and most of us will not be able to afford to purchase homes or provide for our basic necessities. If we cannot meet our basic survival needs, it is almost impossible to have good mental health.
3. Environmental Stressors: What makes our upbringing unique is that the peak exposure to many toxins like forever chemicals (PFA s), and hormone disruptive chemicals, happened around the time we were born. These chemicals have been linked to many mental health issues such as ADHD, ASD, and anxiety. There’s also been measurable levels of microplastics in human blood with unknown health outcomes. On top of this, our generation was constantly given the message that global warming would doom us all, and that our existence contributes to the growing likelihood our planet will vanish. This has contributed to anxiety.
4. Threat of Violence: Gen Z grew up in a time where we had constant “gunman” drills at school. Unlike our parents who only feared earthquakes, we had the fear instilled in us that we are powerless against gun violence and our best bet is turning the lights off and hiding under our desks. We grew up feeling that gun violence is a looming threat.
5. Parenting shifts: our generation experienced high rates of emotional neglect/invalidation and overparenting. Our parents let us play outside less. And, there are consistent trends in parents invalidating our needs and neglecting our emotions. These trends have played a huge role in our struggles with depression and anxiety as adults.
6. Toxic Individualism: Since industrialization, our country has seen cultural shifts towards individualism at the expense of community. This not only contributes to poor mental health, but correlates to the loneliness epidemic which also plays into our mental health crisis.
7. Nutrition and Exercise Crisis: Our food and activity levels are starkly different from our grandparents. We now statistically do not get proper exercise and nutrition has declined within our food/farming practices. Nutrition and exercise play an important role in brain functioning and mental health.
8. Media has a strong influence: The media that has released since our birth has had a huge impact on shaping and normalizing behaviors. Online porn has had a horrible impact on our youth, and the ways in which media portrays mental illness, such as in the Joker, continues to have a lasting impact on stigma.
9. Systemic Bias and Disparities: Due to lack of diversity in our mental health care system, and the disparities that are pervasive within our government’s laws and practices, care is often unsafe for people of diverse groups. This continues to perpetuate disparities and cyclical patterns within certain populations. Likewise, mental illness is highly stigmatized within our medical system which leads to improper coordinated care.
A Call for Comprehensive Solutions
The rise of mental health issues in Gen Z is undeniable, driven by both systemic failings and unique generational challenges. To address this, there is a dire need for comprehensive solutions. As we continue to navigate these issues, it is crucial for all stakeholders, including policymakers, educators, employers, parents, and mental health professionals, to work together to support Generation Z. Only through a concerted effort can we hope to turn the tide on this growing mental health crisis. If you want to learn more about the real root causes of this epidemic, and the solutions we as a society need to make positive change, order my book Out of Focus.
Out of Focus 