OTwo Co-Editor Joshua McCormack explores why Gen Z, despite being the most educated generation on mental health, remains plagued with sadness.

By Joshua McCormack | Sep 11 2024

The image of GenZ as Avocado-Toast-guzzling, Instagram-scrolling saddos is one that widespread mockery from generations blessed with far greater economic outlooks than ourselves has seared into the collective conscience of the world. But unfortunate as the image is, there exists a grain of truth in every caricature, and, as an appalling number of statistics demonstrate, the image of GenZ being hounded by mental health problems is a sad truth.

But why is this? At first glance, it seems rather strange that ours is the generation, statistically speaking, that suffers the most from mental health issues. In an age where Hollywood Stars chat openly about their struggles with depression, where social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok proliferate positive Mental-Health content to anyone actively searching for them, where mental health services – though still lacking – are more widely available than ever, how is it that GenZ is like this. With all these positive developments, why are we so afflicted compared to previous generations?

The most prosaic answer is that mental health data and statistics, as we understand them now, are a relatively recent addition to the field of health medicine. The modern mental health movement sprang from the mind of Clifford Beers in 1908 with the publication of his book, A Mind That Found Itself. It took another ninety years for the World Health Organisation (WHO), in association with Harvard and the ICPE, to launch the World Mental Health Survey Initiative only in 1998. Current mental health discourse only truly took off around the 2010s with the advent of Facebook and subsequent social media.

The above notwithstanding, some surveys recall the memories of older generations’ mental states from when they were as young as GenZ are now. According to a study conducted by King's College London, around half of Millennials, Gen X and Boomers believe that mental health problems were just as common when they were as young as Gen Z; however, many in this cohort also contend that the reason today's young people appear to suffer more from these problems is that they are less resilient than the youth of their day.

The above suggests two things about older generations: one, an admission that they regard youth as a fraught time for one's mental health, and two, that they may view their youth through rose-tinted glasses – if only we could travel back in time to the days when GenX and Boomers were students, hand them the same mental-health surveys, and see how their responses would match those given by young people today. However, if we assume that this generation, all things considered, is and would always have won the ignoble crown of 'Most Depressed Generation,' then we have several contributing factors to consider.

First, there is the dichotomy of social media to consider; it can't be denied that the likes of Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook have played important, and indeed pivotal, roles in the positive mental health journeys of many people. As you scroll through your feed, it is almost impossible to miss posts on healing childhood traumas or leaving toxic, narcissistic partners. Whether you are a regular at the therapy office or not, social media has equipped us with the jargon to express our feelings and understand our behaviours. Still, a significant number of people have also had their mental health severely impacted by social media, the double-edged sword of modern communication.

If one were to choose an aspect of life that cuts GenZ off almost unrecognisably from past generations, it would be how we interact with one another. On a near-constant basis, GenZ is inundated with a constant barrage of social and societal information; at times wonderful, and on other occasions, an always-tangled web of pressures, negotiations, and continuous social navigation, all facilitated through highly addictive apps like Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

It speaks to our generation's lack of personal space for peace and rejuvenation, and over 46% of GenZ are taking active measures to limit their technology use. 

Again, this isn't to say these sites are inherently evil; for the most part, they represent the kind of interactions people would experience in their daily lives, albeit in a more quick-paced, less-personable way. That being said, they do mark a change in how much personal space an individual can enjoy. 

A commodity which, according to surveys conducted by ExpressVPN and the BBC, has motivated significant numbers of GenZ-ers to reduce their social media usage to avoid the endless dirge of message notifications their phones produce.  It speaks to our generation's lack of personal space for peace and rejuvenation, and over 46% of GenZ are taking active measures to limit their technology use. 

Further, there is the fact that GenZ is the most body/image/lifestyle-conscious generation in history; again, this is an unavoidable fact of modern life. For all the wonders of the internet, it is a two-way window: while it allows us to gaze into the wide reaches of the world, it also allows the world to gaze back on us; i.e. GenZ are forced to contend with a constant stream parade of people who are … more successful, beautiful, intelligent, and cool than they. How could anyone not feel down about themselves when the world shoves that in people's faces.

GenZ and Millenials are the first generation since the 1800s not to have a better economic outlook than their parents.

And finally, there is the broader societal context; according to most stats, GenZ and Millenials are the first generation since the 1800s not to have a better economic outlook than their parents. Further, a recent article published in the Washington Post compounds this: it states that the heavy inflation the global economy experienced in recent years – post-COVID – has affected GenZ more than any other generation. This research shows that we are doomed to spend more on necessities such as housing, car loans, and mortgages. There is debt everywhere, and there seems to be no escaping its reach. With mounting social media pressures, economic uncertainty, and a bleak prospect, it is no wonder GenZ is so sad. 

UCD offers various services and resources to support students struggling with their mental health. These services are available on Mental Health Support UCD. If you or someone you know needs immediate support, The Samaritans offer a free 24-hour helpline available at 116 123