Gen Z: The “Anxious Generation” Has a Lot to Share
It’s no secret that Gen Z is facing an intense wave of mental health challenges. A 2022 study ranks anxiety as the most common diagnosis for young people in this cohort. And the latest report from Harmony Healthcare IT dives deeper, showcasing how the anxiety epidemic is shaping everyday life.
Key Findings (and some surprising details!)
- Half of anxious Gen Zers are dealing with mood disorders every single day.
- About one in three are turning to medication to cope.
- Feeling worse in 2023 — 54% of respondents say the year has amplified their stress.
- Financial pressure is a major culprit: costs for everything from tipping to energy bills have climbed, adding extra weight to their already heavy minds.
- Despite an overall trend toward more open conversations about mental health, less than half of Gen Zers feel that their parents, coworkers, or extended family truly get what they’re going through.
- Even a significant portion (46%) of the general public seems clueless about Gen Z’s struggles.
- Nearly a third of Gen Z and Millennials have ghosted relationships to deal with emotional overload, according to another study.
Why the Anxiety Is So Picky at 2023
When you ask what’s rattling Gen Z’s nerves, the answers trend toward these mostly unavoidable stressors:
- Future uncertainty: Jobs, careers, and the future feel like a maze without a map.
- Financial stress: Rising living costs, student loans, and the daunting idea of saving.
- Work woes: The hustle culture plus remote‑work fatigue.
- Social pressure: Endless social media sharing and comparisons.
- Relationship jitters: Maintaining friendships and romantic ties in a hyper‑connected world.
Concrete Numbers That Show the Struggle
Here’s a snapshot of how Gen Z feels:
- 54% say 2023 has pushed their anxiety to new highs.
- One in three (33%) feel that their parents just don’t get what they’re going through.
- When it comes to the public at large, that number climbs to 46%.
- Ghosting isn’t just a dating doom‑scroll story; about 30% of Gen Z & Millennials use it as a coping tactic.
What We Can Do to Bring More Empathy
While therapy has become more mainstream and people are increasingly willing to talk about mental health, there’s still a gap in genuine understanding from those around us. The road to emotional wellness, especially for a generation constantly on the brink, demands both professional help and a community that truly listens.
Let’s liven up those conversations, replace judgment with questions, and share a little understanding (and maybe a joke) — because we can’t change the world in one night, but we can certainly make the anxiety-filled days a bit lighter.
