Generation Z and Mental Health
Members of Generation Z — defined here as individuals born between 1997 and 2012 — are growing up in an age of increased stress and anxiety. Some 84% of Gen Zers believe mental health is a crisis in the United States, and they are over 80% more likely to report dealing with anxiety or depression compared to older generations, according to recent Gen Z studies.
Why Focus on Mental Health for Gen Z, Specifically?
Former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher once said, “There is no health without mental health,” which is true for all age groups. Gen Zers, ranging from ages 12 to 27 in 2024, are unique because the vast majority are going through a critical stage of development. A large body of research has shown that the age span of roughly 14 through 24 marks a formative phase of life in which profound cognitive, biological and psychosocial changes are taking place. At the same time, these young people must navigate increasing autonomy, forming their identities, developing relationship and life skills, obtaining education and career training and more. This is also a vulnerable time for adolescent mental health, as about 75% of mental illnesses emerge between ages 10 and 24. This critical period is an important window of opportunity to support young people, promote their mental well-being and help set them on a positive path for the future.
Gen Zers are also correct in their assessment—they are facing a mental health crisis. Leading organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recently declared a national state of emergency for child and youth mental health. And while most young people are physically and emotionally healthy, trends in youth suicide, mental health ER visits, depression and anxiety have been on the rise over the past decade or more. This crisis has affected younger children and millennials, too. Generation Z has been exceptionally open about sharing their struggles, as described in this post.
Note: When considering the mental health of Generation Z, it can be useful to remember that:
- Gen Z is not a monolith. They’re extremely diverse — racially, linguistically, culturally and socioeconomically — and more likely to identify as LGBTQ+ than older age groups. Naturally, they have many influences on their mental health beyond the generation in which they were born.
- Comparisons across generations are tricky because it is difficult to tease apart what might be actual generational differences from demographic population shifts or age-related factors, such as developmental phases and differences in health care access.
Generation Z Battles Anxiety and Depression
Nearly two-thirds (65%) of Gen Zers reported experiencing at least one mental health problem in the past two years, according to a multi-year study released in 2023. This statistic was lower for all older generations, including millennials (51%), Gen Xers (29%) and Boomers (14%).
While these differences may be partially explained by Gen Z’s stage of life, some research indicates that Gen Z has higher rates of self-reported mental health challenges compared to previous generations at the same age. For example, the latest CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey data shows that 42% of Gen Z high schoolers reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2021, which is nearly 50% higher than reports of millennial high schoolers in the early 2000s. Among girls, this figure was 35% for millennial high schoolers in 2001 compared to 57% of Gen Z high schoolers in 2021.
Recent surveys of Gen Zers show widespread self-reported struggles with anxiety and depression. For instance:
- A 2023 Gallup survey found that almost half (47%) of Gen Zers ages 12 to 26 often or always feel anxious, and more than one in five (22%) often or always feel depressed. Figures were even higher for the females and adults in this sample, and they were alarmingly high for LGBTQ+ adults (with 74% feeling anxious and 50% feeling depressed).
- Among Gen Z young adults ages 18 to 24, a fall 2022 Census Bureau survey found that more than two in five (44%) reported persistent nervous, on edge or anxious feelings, and one in three (33%) reported persistent depressed, down or hopeless feelings. These survey questions are well-established screeners for depression and anxiety disorders.
- According to a 2022 federal survey of nearly 15,000 Gen Z youth ages 12 to 17, one in five (20%) had a major depressive episode in the previous year, equivalent to 4.8 million adolescents. An even greater share—25%—had either a major depressive episode or a substance use disorder in the past year.
- The same federal survey asked different mental health questions of people 18 and older, but similarly found that 20% of Gen Z young adults ages 18 to 25 also experienced a major depressive episode in the past year. This figure tends to be lower for older age groups: 10% for ages 26 to 49 and 5% for those 50 and above in 2022.
- Further, according to this federal survey, more than one in three (36%) Gen Z young adults ages 18 to 25 had “Any Mental Illness” in the past year, which means any mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder of sufficient length to meet clinical diagnostic criteria, excluding developmental and substance use disorders. This is equivalent to 12.6 million young people.
Mental Health ER Visits and Hospitalizations Backup Gen Z Self-Reports
In addition to Generation Z’s self-reports of depression, anxiety and other struggles, data on mental health hospitalizations and emergency room (ER) visits demonstrate similarly concerning findings.
- Among young people ages 6 to 24, the share of ER visits for mental health problems nearly doubled from 2011 to 2020—and suicide-related visits increased five-fold—according to a 2023 study. (Gen Z spanned ages 8 to 23 in 2020.) These increases occurred for younger children, adolescents, and young adults, with the largest jump observed for adolescents. Mental health-related ER visits increased significantly across all demographic groups studied, e.g., by gender, race and ethnicity, insurance type and geography.
- Additional research found that ER visits for suicide attempts continued to climb in 2021 for youth ages 12 to 17, and that mental health-related ER visits among young people are generally becoming more complex and resulting in longer hospital stays.
- Among all youth ages 11 to 20 who are hospitalized in the United States, more than one in five have a mental health or substance use diagnosis, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
- Data show rising mental health hospitalizations and troubling readmission rates among children and youth in the past decade. For instance, a 2023 study found that such hospitalizations increased by more than 25% between 2009 and 2019, and hospitalizations due to suicide or self-injury rose at least 1.6‑fold.
Why Is Generation Z So Depressed?
There is no simple or definitive answer, but experts suggest a range of possible contributors to the rise in mental health problems among young people, including but not limited to:
- High rates of social media use
- Worsening stress and social contexts due to issues like climate change, mass shootings, racial violence and the opioid epidemic
- Long-term effects of economic inequities
Recent surveys have asked Gen Zers what they think is contributing to their mental health challenges. Here’s what they said:
Financial stress and achievement pressure: A majority (56%) of Gen Z young adults ages 18 to 25 say financial worries are negatively influencing their mental health, and half (51%) say achievement pressure is having the same impact, according to a 2022 nationally representative survey by Harvard University. In a similar vein, a 2023 Gallup survey found that more than two-thirds (69%) of Gen Zers ages 12 to 26 say their most important hope for the future is to earn enough money to be comfortable, yet 64% see financial resources as a barrier to achieving their goals or aspirations—by far the top reported barrier.
Lack of life direction and purpose: The same Harvard study found that half of Gen Z young adults say their mental health is negatively affected by not knowing what to do with their lives, and almost three in five (58%) lacked meaning or purpose in their lives within the past month. Among young people ages 12 to 26, another 2023 Gallup survey found that the biggest driver of Gen Z happiness is their sense of purpose at either school or work, but 43% to 49% of Gen Zers “do not feel what they do each day is interesting, important or motivating.”
Climate change and global worries: Nearly half (45%) of young adults ages 18 to 25 think their mental health is harmed by an overall “sense that things are falling apart,” and one in three (34%) say climate change is having a negative effect. A recent international study of 10,000 young people ages 16 to 25 also found that more than 80% were worried about the climate crisis, with many expressing feelings of sadness, anxiety, anger and powerlessness.
A need for connection with others: Sadly, more than two in five (44%) Gen Z young adults feel like they don’t matter to others, and one in three (34%) report loneliness, according to the same Harvard survey. This is corroborated by 2023 Gallup findings that about one in three Gen Zers ages 12 to 26 do not often feel loved (31%) or supported (35%) by others, and a similar share (30%) always/often feel like nobody knows them well. This is especially troubling given that these young people are going through a vulnerable developmental stage, and evidence indicates that stable, supportive relationships are important for positive mental health.
Gun violence and social issues in America: More than two in five (42%) Gen Z young adults say gun violence negatively affects their mental health, and 70% see this as a public health issue. Multiple surveys also find that Gen Z is concerned about access to health care, reproductive health care, racial justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and other social issues.
Technology likely plays a role, too. On one hand, growing up in a hyperconnected world can provide access to positive social connections and supportive resources. On the other hand, it can fuel a steady drumbeat of negative news stories, encourage unhealthy social comparisons and increase the risk of online harassment. LGBTQ+ youth and young people of color face particular risks of discrimination on social media. Some research links high levels of social media use among youth to adverse outcomes, including depression and inadequate sleep. Those who are already struggling with mental health problems may be more likely to use social media, making it difficult to untangle the effects of technology.
What causes depression in young people, generally?
Mental health conditions like depression and anxiety disorders are complex and not caused by a single issue. Instead, multiple factors are involved and may range from brain chemistry disruptions and genetic vulnerability to traumatic experiences (e.g., abuse, exposure to violence, death of a loved one) and negative thought patterns. Many other factors and circumstances can increase the risk of these conditions in young people, such as: substance abuse; chronic physical health conditions; low self-esteem; LGBTQ+ youth who lack support; and long-term relationship or school problems. The contributors to depression and other mental illnesses are different for every young person, and each individual is influenced by their unique biological, family, community, cultural and environmental contexts.
Generation Z and Suicide
The U.S. suicide rate for young people ages 10 to 24 surged by 57% from 2009 to 2019. The rate continued climbing through 2021 before declining in 2022. Suicide was the third leading cause of death for Generation Z overall in 2022, who spanned ages 10 to 25 that year, although it was the second leading cause of death among younger (ages 10 to 14) and older (20 to 24) Gen Zers.
Data shows that suicide rates vary by demographic factors, such as age, gender, LGBTQ+ status and race or ethnicity.
Girls and young women are more likely to plan and attempt suicide, but boys and young men are more likely to die by suicide per the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey and Leading Causes of Death. In 2022, for instance, males accounted for 78% of suicides among youth ages 10 to 24. Researchers explain that males typically use more lethal means when attempting suicide.
American Indian or Alaska Native youth in the same age range have the highest suicide rate compared to other racial/ethnic groups, and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander youth (not combined with Asian) have the second highest rate. While rates are lower for Asian youth ages 10 to 24, suicide is the leading cause of death for this group, and alarming trends have been observed in recent decades, including suicide rates spiking by 140% from 1998 to 2018 among Asian young people. Rates are also lower for Black youth, although it is still the third leading cause of death for this group, and leaders have been calling attention to concerning increases here, as well. For example, a 2024 study noted that the suicide rate for Black youth ages 10 to 24 jumped by 37% between 2018 and 2021, the largest increase of all racial and ethnic groups in this period.
In addition, the latest Youth Risk Behavior Survey data show that more than one in five (22%) U.S. high schoolers seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year and a startling one in 10 (10%) actually attempted suicide in 2021. Among racial and ethnic groups, the share attempting suicide was highest for American Indian or Alaska Native (16%), Black (15%) and multiracial (12%) students. Gen Zers of color disproportionately face risk factors for mental health conditions, such as less access to treatment in addition to exposure to racism, poverty, food insecurity and other adverse childhood experiences.
Too many young people experience added stress due to discrimination based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity. Leading health organizations, including the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics, view racism and discrimination as a major public health concern, acknowledging its known effects on the mental health of young people.
In 2021–2022. approximately 1.7 million youth ages 12 to 17 (7%) reportedly had been treated or judged unfairly because of their race or ethnicity, and about 636,000 (3%) because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Further, a 2023 national survey revealed that 60% of LGBTQ+ young people ages 13 to 24 experienced discrimination in the past year due to their sexual orientation or gender identity, and about one in four (24%) were physically threatened or hurt for the same reason. Those who were threatened or harmed were much more likely to attempt suicide.
Suicide attempts are tragically high for LGBTQ+ high school students, as well, at 22% in 2021, compared to 6% for heterosexual students. And nearly half (45%) of U.S. LGBTQ+ high schoolers seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year, three times the rate (15%) of their heterosexual peers.
The vast majority of LGBTQ+ youth say that they want mental health care, but most of them (56%) are not able to get it, according to the 2023 survey noted above. The barriers they list illustrate that too many youth lack the support they need, including fears of discussing concerns (47%) getting permission to access care (41%) and not being taken seriously (40%), among other fears. Other common barriers were not being able to afford it (38%) and being afraid it wouldn’t work (33%).
In addition to LGBTQ+ youth and young people of color, suicide rates are also high for those with disabilities, youth in rural areas, and those in the foster care or juvenile justice systems. Immigrant and low-income young people face elevated risks for mental health challenges, as well.
Read more about teen suicide trends in our post on Leading Causes on Death in Teens, which includes data on suicides by firearm and resources on how to reduce teen deaths.
Gen Z Tends To Be Open About Mental Health and Seeking Help, But Can’t Always Access Care
While Generation Z has been called the most depressed generation, members of this group are more likely than their older peers to seek out mental health counseling or therapy. Some 39% of Gen Zers — a higher rate than any previous generation — report working with a mental health professional in person or online.
Still, access to care remains a problem, as illustrated above for LGBTQ+ young people. According to Mental Health America: 60% of Gen Z youth ages 12 to 17 with major depression do not receive treatment. This is roughly in line with other studies showing that around half of children and youth who need mental health care do not get it.
Access to care is a challenge for Gen Z young adults, too. A 2022 Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that almost half (47%) of young adults ages 18 to 29 did not get mental health care in the past year when they thought they might need it, with cost cited among the top barriers. Other commonly reported barriers to getting help include stigma (being afraid or embarrassed), feeling too busy or having difficulty getting time off work, challenges finding a provider, insurance limitations and not knowing how to find services.
Even though stigma continues to be a common barrier to mental health treatment, many experts credit Gen Z for helping to reduce stigma around mental health. One study estimated that members of Generation Z are 20% more willing to talk about their mental health than older generations. This is critical, as more openness about emotional health issues not only helps de-stigmatize the subject, but also creates more awareness and opportunities to receive and/or provide support.
Mental Health and Mental Health Care for Generation Z People of Color
Youth of color are less likely to receive mental health care compared to white youth. Many issues contribute to this disparity, including stigma, distrust in providers, a lack of culturally competent providers or difficulty finding providers. Larger structural inequities also contribute to access problems, such as socioeconomic, health insurance and geographic barriers.
Mental Health America and others have reported that Asian youth are the least likely to receive mental health treatment compared to adolescents in other racial or ethnic groups. Inequities in access to care and unmet needs have also been documented for Black, Latino, American Indian or Alaska Native and multiracial young people. Limited access to mental health services for youth of color elevates the risk of poor outcomes, and it might explain lower rates of diagnosis for some groups.
In communities of color (and society in general), mental illness and mental health care are often stigmatized. For example, research on Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities indicates that mental health can be very stigmatized, which affects the likelihood of seeking professional care. Language and culture play an important role in perceptions and communication of mental health issues, as well. For example, Asian Americans tend to have lower rates of mental health diagnosis because their symptoms are more likely to manifest as physical health problems, according to research. And in some native languages, words such as “depressed” and “anxious” do not directly translate, pointing to the need for providers with shared cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
Nearly 75% of U.S. mental health care providers are white, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Experts note that people of color may be less likely to trust professionals who do not share their cultural backgrounds, and they may not have confidence that such professionals will provide culturally responsive care. Additionally, trusting health care providers, in general, can be a challenge for people of color given our country’s history of systemic racism, slavery and genocide, which has contributed to intergenerational psychological trauma.
Therefore, even when Gen Z youth of color opt to seek help, they may struggle to find a professional they trust, who understands their background or language and who provides culturally responsive services. Further, they may be hard-pressed to find a professional at all, recognizing the general shortage of mental health providers and the limited mental health services for adolescents in communities of color. Providers tend to be limited in rural and low-income areas, as well. These youth also may face barriers due to cost of care or health insurance. Mental illness frequently goes untreated in communities of color due to higher levels of uninsurance, as reported by the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
COVID-19’s Effect on Generation Z’s Mental Health
While mental health trends for Gen Z were going in the wrong direction before the onset of COVID-19 in 2020, the pandemic exacerbated emotional health challenges for youth and had a significant adverse impact on the lives of Generation Z.
The pandemic radically changed their family, community, educational, social and employment experiences. It shifted learning online. Created social isolation. Closed community programs. Destabilized the economy. Derailed employment and college for many. Robbed young people of a parent or loved one. And prompted some older siblings to juggle new roles as teachers and caregivers for their families. Many effects of the pandemic continue today.
School closures were particularly hard on young people and families, by causing social isolation, weakening learning experiences and removing a critical safety net for families. About two in five families with children (including Gen Zers under 18) had difficulty paying for basic household expenses during the pandemic and at least half lost employment income after the pandemic hit. Schools offer consistent meals, medical screenings and support services for many children and youth. In some areas, schools are also the only source of mental health services for young people — particularly for youth who identify as LGBTQ+ and for individuals from low-income households and families of color. Losing this safety net during the pandemic significantly added to the hardship experienced by millions of children, youth and families.
Among Gen Z young adults, many had their college plans, jobs and finances knocked off track. For instance, in October 2020, more than 40% of U.S. households reported that a prospective college student was canceling plans to attend community college, according to Census Bureau data. College enrollment rates have continued to decline since the pandemic. Additional Census Bureau data on the KIDS COUNT Data Center demonstrate some of the employment and financial difficulties they faced, as well:
- In April-May 2020, 63% of young adults ages 18 to 24 reported that they or a household member lost employment income since the pandemic began.
- Just under one in 10 (9%) young adults said they sometimes or often did not have enough food to eat prior to the pandemic but as of April-May 2020, 14% said they did not have enough to eat in the past week. While this figure fluctuated over the next two years, it was still 13% as of October-November 2022.
- In April-May 2020, more than one in five (22%) young adults said they had little or no confidence in their ability to make their next rent or mortgage payment on time. This figure declined to 13% as of the latest data available in March-May 2022.
Given all of these challenges, it may not be surprising that mental health concerns climbed during the pandemic, by all accounts. Nearly two in five (37%) U.S. high schoolers said they experienced poor mental health during the pandemic, and over half (55%) said they endured emotional abuse by someone at home, according to the CDC. Among parents, almost half (47%) said the pandemic had a negative effect on their child’s mental health, based on a national 2022 Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) survey. Further, about seven in 10 parents were concerned about the impact of pandemic-caused isolation or loneliness on teens, and more than eight in 10 were worried about depression or anxiety among teens. Most parents were also worried about adolescent struggles with substance use, self-harm and eating disorders.
The same KFF survey found that Black and Latino parents were more likely than white parents to be “very worried” about many adolescent emotional health issues. For example, more Latino parents were “very worried” about loneliness or isolation due to the pandemic compared to white parents: 45% vs 27%, respectively. And Black parents were more likely than white parents to worry about teen depression: 53% vs. 39%. (The survey did not break out additional racial or ethnic groups.)
Experts note that the pandemic magnified existing health inequities in America, exposing gaps in the mental health and health care systems, with the fallout disproportionately impacting low-income populations and people of color. However, on the positive side, the pandemic generally increased awareness of mental health issues and expanded telemedicine opportunities, which expanded access to services for those facing geographic or other barriers to care. Still, mental health care needs to be better integrated into primary health care, among many other steps to improve mental health outcomes for young people.
Read more about how the pandemic disrupted the lives of children and families in 2020.
Taking Action to Address Gen Z Mental Health
Millions of Gen Zers have been struggling for too long, and inequities in mental health conditions and access to care must be improved. While youth mental health has gained public attention and traction in recent years, much more effort is needed at the national, state and local levels.
The following resources offer a range of strategies that can be taken now by policymakers, administrators, funders, education leaders and educators, various service providers, advocates, families, youth and others. At minimum, it will require multiple sectors: giving this issue higher priority; backing it up with adequate funding, policy and infrastructure; strengthening collaboration across organizations and sectors; increasing mental health services and supports, especially at schools; improving the diversity of and training for the mental health workforce; and focusing on equity and youth empowerment at every step.
- Youth Mental Health Report, National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
- 2024 National Strategy for Suicide Prevention and Federal Action Plan, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- Blueprint for Youth Suicide Prevention, American Academy of Pediatrics
- Strengthening Youth Mental Health: A Governor’s Playbook, National Governors Association (also see Mental Health America’s summary of the playbook)
- Partnering with Schools to Improve Youth Mental Health, School-Based Health Alliance and National Council for Mental Wellbeing
- Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools: An Action Guide for School and District Leaders, CDC
- Mental Health, Substance Use, and Wellbeing in Higher Education: Supporting the Whole Student, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
- On Edge: Understanding and Preventing Young Adults’ Mental Health Challenges, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Making Caring Common Project
More Resources on Generation Z and Mental Health
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Continue learning about Generation Z, Generation Alpha, and how these young people will shape America’s future:
- Core Characteristics of Generation Z
- What the Statistics Say About Generation Z
- Social Issues That Matter to Generation Z
- Statistics Snapshot: Generation Z and Education
- What Is Generation Alpha?
- Social Media’s Concerning Effect on Teen Mental Health
- Mental Health and Asian American and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Youth
- 2023 KIDS COUNT Data Book
KIDS COUNT Data Center indicators on Gen Z and other generations:
- Population size by Gen Alpha, Gen Z, millennials, Gen X and baby boomers, by race and ethnicity
- People living in poverty by generation
- People living in poverty by generation and race and ethnicity
- People living in low-income households by generation
- People living in low-income households by generation and race and ethnicity
Additional Resources to Support Youth Mental Health
- Joe Ribsam on How to Improve Youth Behavioral Health Care: The Foundation’s director of child welfare and juvenile justice policy describes what it takes to build an integrated behavioral health care system that sets young people up to thrive.
- Strengthening Tribal Identity to Prevent Youth Suicide: Highlights a project showing that, for young people from historically underrepresented communities, including American Indian and Alaska Native youth, evidence-based programs that draw on cultural roots offer promising opportunities to prevent suicide.
- Creating Equitable Ecosystems of Belonging and Opportunity for Youth: Developed with support from the Foundation, this guide aims to help leaders build ecosystems that are better suited to ensure youth thrive.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call, text or chat 24⁄7 for free, confidential support with trained crisis counselors. The national 988 Lifeline provides prevention and crisis resources if you or someone you know is in distress.
