New Survey Reveals The Reality Of Gen Z Mental Health And Fears For The Future
It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic pushed many people and their mental health to the edge– spurring greater incidences of depression, anxiety, stress, and trauma.
But, one demographic is suffering a mental health epidemic of devastating proportions: Gen Z.
This tragic finding and more were recently revealed by a Harmony Healthcare IT survey in which over one thousand Gen Zers between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four shared their mental health struggles, habits, and fear for the future.
First and foremost, the survey unveiled the general state of Gen Z mental health– and it is damning.
Sixty-eight percent of young people cited that COVID-19 negatively impacted their mental health, and forty-two percent have been diagnosed with a mental health condition.
And alarmingly, twenty-five percent of those diagnoses were received during the pandemic.
Fifty-seven percent of young people with mental health conditions are also currently taking medication; meanwhile, twenty percent go to therapy. But, just how effective these treatments are remains to be seen– because nearly one in four Gen Zers reported having more bad mental health days than good ones this past August.
And overwhelmingly, the top diagnosed mental health condition is anxiety at ninety percent. Next is depression at seventy-eight percent, followed by ADHD, PTSD, and OCD.
Interestingly, though, the survey also illuminated how mental health conversations are flowing perhaps much more than ever before.
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In fact, eighty-seven percent of young people feel comfortable discussing mental health in general with others. Plus, sixty-three percent are open to discussing their own mental health struggles.
Still, the safe environment that Gen Z has fostered around tearing down mental health stigmas does not appear to be enough since struggles are still impacting their work.
Sixty-two percent of young people have taken a mental health day off from school or work– with Gen Zers taking an average of three this year.
And interestingly, one in three Gen Zers have used social media as an outlet to discuss their mental health despite the majority of young people citing social media as dampening their psyche.
More specifically, fifty-seven percent of young people revealed that they have taken a break from social media– with the average break lasting about ten weeks.
Plus, thirty-six percent have even deleted social media altogether in hopes of helping their mental health.
Still, technology is not going anywhere, and eighty-five percent of Gen Zers reported that they are very worried about the future.
In fact, fifty percent of young people do not feel ready to enter the workforce; meanwhile, sixty-six percent do not feel financially stable.
So, Gen Zer’s top concerns about the future include personal finances, the economy, personal health, and the environment. Then, politics, the workforce, violence, and the pandemic.
Unfortunately, Gen Z has grown and developed during a time of immense change in the United States.
First came the advent of social media, which specifically brought its own set of health implications.
Then, general worries about the turbulent economy and the environment have only grown over the last decade.
And finally, the COVID-19 pandemic was an unprecedented cherry of uncertainty and fear on top that was bound to leave its mark on the mental health of millions.
All of these circumstances explain why the mental health struggles of Gen Z have been severely exacerbated in recent years. But now, our post-pandemic recovery mission must address the silent epidemic facing young adults across the nation.
To read the survey’s complete findings, visit the link here.
And if you or a loved one are in need of support, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7. Simply dial 9-8-8.
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