State of Gen Z Mental Health New Research on Gen Z Mental Health During the most formative years of their lives, Gen Z has been front and center to some of the most unprecedented events in U.S. and global history. One of the biggest being the pandemic, which will have a lasting impact on the future of technology, healthcare, and even mental health. Almost 3 in 4 Gen Zers say the pandemic has negatively impacted their mental health. On top of day-to-day mental health struggles, many are concerned and unsure about what lies ahead for them. Mental Health Nearly a third (31%) of Gen Zers would rate their overall mental health in 2022 as bad. When asked to describe their mental health over the period of one month, one out of four reported having more bad days than good. On average, Gen Z reported about ten tough mental health days in the span of one month. More than two in five have a diagnosed mental health condition. Of those, more than one out of four (26%) were diagnosed during the pandemic (from March 2020 or later). The biggest mental health issue Gen Z deals with is anxiety. Nine out of ten Gen Z with diagnosed mental health conditions struggle with anxiety, and nearly eight out of ten (78%) are battling depression. Other mental health conditions the generation faces are ADHD (27%), PTSD (20%), and OCD (17%). Nearly three in five (57%) Gen Zers with mental health conditions are taking medication, and those who aren’t on their parents’ insurance pay $528 a year out-of-pocket for their medication (about $44 a month). About one in five (18%) are doing therapy, and they pay a lot for it. Gen Zers who aren’t on their parents’ insurance, pay an average of $149 a month out-of-pocket. That’s about $1,788 a year. While expensive, 87% of Gen Z who are getting therapy find it helpful. About two in five (39%) go to therapy once a week or more. Discussing Mental Health More than four in five (83%) Gen Zers feel their generation deals with more mental health issues than other generations, but perhaps because of that, they feel equipped to talk openly about mental health. Nearly nine in ten (87%) feel comfortable talking about mental health with others. However, many Gen Zers are more private when it comes to their own mental health. Only three in five (63%) said they feel comfortable talking about their personal struggles with others. Gen Z is most comfortable talking about mental health to their friends, siblings, and parents. However, they are least comfortable addressing it with their boss, strangers, or grandparents. In fact, more than half (52%) said they feel uncomfortable discussing mental health with their boss. More than one in ten Gen Zers admitted they have had a conversation with their boss about it, and while 91% of bosses were supportive, about one out of ten (9%) were not. With the recent increase of quiet quitting (refusing to do more than what your job description requires), Gen Z are making sure to take care of their mental health on the job. More than three in five (62%) have taken a mental health day off school or work. In the first eight months of 2022, Gen Z has taken an average of three mental health days to recuperate. Surprisingly though, Gen Z would prefer to talk about mental health with someone they don’t know as well. Our survey found Gen Z would be more comfortable talking about their mental health with acquaintances than their teachers, grandparents, or religious leaders. While 79% of Gen Z feel their generation is best at addressing mental health, 82% of Gen Z feel Baby Boomers are the worst at talking about mental health. Gen Z thought highly of Millennials, with one in five Gen Z (17%) saying Millennials are the best generation when it comes to discussing mental health. Social Media’s Impact on Gen Z Gen Z has grown up in an age where social media has always existed. With that comes a lot of challenges, especially when it comes to mental health. Gen Z spends an average of four hours on social media daily! The generation started logging on social media sites on average when they were around 12-years-old, but one in five (18%) actually had their own accounts when they were 10-years-old or younger. The top sites Gen Z use are: Youtube, Instagram, and Snapchat. Since the generation is willing to talk to others more about their mental health, they’re also more transparent online. One in three have posted about their mental health on social media. Others have logged off to care for themselves. Nearly three in five (57%) have taken a break from social media for their mental health. On average, Gen Z goes offline for about 10 weeks. Some in the generation have gone a step further and completely deleted social media for their mental health. Since 2020, one out of three Gen Z have deleted their accounts. While some have stayed off social media, about one-quarter (24%) admitted that they ended up reactivating their accounts. The Fear of the Future Gen Z is worried about the future. Nearly 90% of Gen Z does not feel like their generation has been set up for success, and 75% feel they have a disadvantage compared to other generations. Some of the biggest concerns have to do with finances and work. More than three in five (66%) do not feel financially stable, and 50% do not feel ready to join the workforce. Overall, 89% of Gen Z are worried about their personal finances, and 70% are concerned about the economy. Other concerns at top of mind for Gen Z are their personal health/mental illness, the environment, and politics. Gen Z has grown up in a turbulent time in America. There is a long road ahead to navigate and every generation will need to work together to build a more promising future that everyone can enjoy. A first step is opening up about struggles and challenges and remembering that you are never alone. Methodology In September 2022, we surveyed 1,055 Gen Z to ask them about their mental health. 47% were men, 45% women, 6% nonbinary, and 2% transgender. Respondents ranged in age from 18 to 24 with an average age of 22. For media inquiries, please contact media@digitalthirdcoast.net. Fair Use When using this data and research, please attribute by linking to this study and citing https://www.harmonyhit.com/.