Understanding, Supporting, and Strengthening Gen Z’s Mental Health in a Hyper-Connected World
Are you in the Gen Z generation, facing the trials and tribulations of growing up in a fast-paced, digitally-dominated world? Is the stress of managing your own mental wellbeing becoming overwhelming? You are not the only one navigating these turbulent waters. Mental health issues such as anxiety and depression are rising steadily among Gen Z individuals, signaling a critical need to address and understand these challenges head-on. In this comprehensive interview with psychologist Dr. Katie Finn, we dive deeper into the Gen Z mental health crisis, unveil valuable resources to assist you on this journey, and provide insights on building resilience amidst the rapidly evolving global landscape.
It’s a daunting experience to feel lost in the maze of mental health concerns, but you don’t have to face it alone. With an ever-growing network of mental health support and services at your fingertips, you can equip yourself with the necessary tools to overcome these hurdles. Join us as we embark on a voyage through the labyrinth of Gen Z mental health and forge the path towards a healthier, brighter future.
Q: What are the most common mental health challenges faced by Gen Z?
Dr. Finn: Gen Z is defined as anyone born between the years of 1999 and 2014, so that is a relatively wide age range. I think that depending on the age, those mental health concerns will differ. I work with children and teenagers, so I can more confidently speak to this.
I have noticed a lot of kids and teens (and their concerned parents) presenting concerns of depression and anxiety, as well as a more specific type of anxiety called social anxiety. According to research that was just done by the Pew Center, 70% of teens report having anxiety. I think this is true for a few reasons.
- Socialization is key to our social-emotional development and most kids get that from school and after-school activities. Unfortunately, when COVID was at its height, there was a large group of kids that did not get that much needed socialization with their peers. Going back to school, socializing with others, and returning to “normal life” has been stressful for some of these younger people.
- Gen Z is growing up in a hyper-connected electronic world. Never have we as a culture been so electronically connected, while simultaneously being so isolated and lonely. Interestingly, social media usage drives up, or gives dopamine “hits” to the brain, which creates a vicious cycle of going back to the sites over and over again. We begin to crave that more and more and our usage goes up, while our mental health declines.>>Check out this article from Jefferson Health, if it relates to you
- Concerns about the socio-political climate. Gen Z tends to report more stress related to things like climate policy, health care policies, mass shootings, the economy, and the general landscape of our country more than other generations.
Q: How can Gen Z individuals identify and access mental health support and services?
Dr. Finn: Identifying what level of mental health support someone needs is ultimately in the hands of providers. But, as a brief explanation, levels of care in the mental healthcare system look a little like this:
Inpatient Hospitals: At the top of our pyramid, we have inpatient hospitals. These are meant for folks that cannot keep themselves safe or are a threat to others’ safety. If you feel as if you cannot keep yourself safe, or have these concerns about someone else, you should call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8 , 9-1-1, or go to your nearest emergency room. 9-8-8 connects callers to a nationwide network of trained counselors, who when needed, can connect the individual to local care.
Residential Treatment Facilities: These are long term facilities where people (ideally 6-9 months). During this time, they receive intensive individual and group therapy services.
Intensive Outpatient or Partial Hospitalization Programs: This is still a high level of care, but these individuals are safe enough to return to their homes at night.
Outpatient Mental Health Care: This looks like meeting with a therapist, usually once per week. This also can be family therapy, group therapy, or mobile therapy.
Psychology Today is a great way to get connected to a provider for outpatient-based therapy. Each of these services are dependent on the types of insurance. Your healthcare insurance can assist in determining eligibility.
Q: In what ways can family and workplaces better support Gen Z’s mental health and create an environment conducive to their wellbeing?
Dr. Finn: Point out the positive things that people are doing! This sounds simple but can really make a difference in a family or workplace culture. If we can switch our mindsets from pointing out what is wrong, to praising what we appreciate, we see two things happen. One, people are more likely to engage in that positive behavior and two, the quality of relationships improve.
All people like to know what to expect! When possible, clearly communicate expectations to your children or employees. This decreases anxiety and increases prosocial behaviors.
Regardless of if this is your child or your employee, when setting expectations tell people what you want to see, not what you do not want to see. For example, if I am talking to a child I might say, “Hand the toy nicely to me,” rather than, “Do not throw that toy!” If I am an employer, I might say, “Please send all notes to me within 2-3 days,” rather than, “Don’t forget to send your notes.” People learn better this way and are more likely to feel confident in following through.
They are growing up in a hyper-connected electronic world. Never have we as a culture been so electronically connected, while simultaneously being so isolated and lonely.
-Dr. Katie Finn
Q: What role can parents/supervisors play in helping Gen Z build resilience and coping skills?
Dr. Finn: Modeling! This is a well-known method of learning, but still holds true. One of the ways we learn is by watching others. When people around us set appropriate boundaries and prioritize mental wellness, we are more likely to learn how to do so and allow ourselves to do the same.
Reduce the stigma in talking about mental health. Ask your children or employees what type of conversations they want to have about mental health at home or in the workplace. Gen Z is the generation that is the most comfortable talking about mental health (with the exception of their bosses being the people they are least comfortable talking to). Use this strength and follow their lead!
One of my favorite analogies that I was once told by a great colleague regarding anxiety was, “Is this problem a glass ball or a plastic ball? If I drop it, will it shatter, or will it bounce back up and I can catch it another time?” Helping your children (and employees) learn the skill of “zooming out” in times of distress to be able to prioritize the things that are more impactful and need more attention.
Q: What coping strategies are effective for Gen Z dealing with mental health challenges?
Dr. Finn: There isn’t a one-size-fits-all set of coping strategies. It takes time and intention to learn what works best for your own mind and body. Also, coping strategies are intended to help you process the emotion and calm down your body, not avoid it.
Most importantly, coping strategies should be practiced first when calm, not in the moment of an intense emotion. For example, if I am a person that has never tried mediation and I try for the first time in the middle of an intense emotion, I am not likely to be able to calm down using that. When working with children, I practice coping strategies with them when they are calm and happy, so that when they are dysregulated, they are more likely to be able to effectively utilize them. Think about coping strategies like any sport. You have to practice, not under pressure, to get better at them!
Q: Anything else you would like to recommend for both Gen Z and all others as we work to improve our mental health?
Dr. Finn: I recommend moving your body every day and fueling your body with foods that power you if you are able to. Movement is so essential to our mental health. Recent studies have found that exercise is actually more effective than most antidepressants! We can’t expect our mind to function well if we are not taking care of our bodies.
Dr. Katie Finn is a Counseling Psychologist and earned her degree from Chatham University. She specializes in working with children and teens, specifically those that are neurodiverse. She currently practices at Connection Counseling and Consultation, located in Pittsburgh, PA.
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