Exploring the Motivation: Insight into Why Today's Youth Turn to Psychotherapy
Mental Health Stigma Decreases Among Gen Z
The stigma attached to mental health has significantly decreased among Generation Z (Gen Z) in recent years, according to various studies and research. This change can be attributed to increased openness, advocacy, and digital exposure to mental health topics.
Social Media and Digital Exposure
Gen Z, who have grown up immersed in digital platforms, have normalized conversations about anxiety, therapy, and emotional struggles. Social media has made these topics more visible and relatable, reducing stigma and encouraging open discussions.
Generational Openness and Advocacy
Compared to previous generations, Gen Z is more open about mental health and actively pushes for reduced stigma and improved access to services. They challenge older attitudes that emphasized stoicism or silence toward mental health issues and instead prioritize transparency and seeking help.
Cultural Diversity and Inclusion
Gen Z's racial and cultural diversity fosters a broader worldview that values inclusion and mental wellness as fundamental rights. This diversity encourages acceptance and reduces shame associated with mental health.
Authenticity and Mental Wellness Values
Gen Z values authenticity highly and rejects posturing around mental health. Their willingness to openly discuss personal mental health struggles such as anxiety and to share experiences of therapy has helped normalize these practices.
Mental Health Advocacy and Education
Activism by Gen Z and widespread mental health education have increased awareness, challenged stereotypes, and fostered supportive attitudes, all contributing to stigma reduction.
While stigma still exists and can vary by factors such as education, geography, and culture, these shifts in communication, values, and representation have substantially decreased stigma among Gen Z and the broader society in recent years.
Case Study: Tara Tomic
Tara Tomic, a sixteen-year-old student, has experienced multiple mental health counselors since the age of twelve due to struggles with depression. Her initial therapeutic experience was deemed "far from helpful" as the counselor focused on generalized labels rather than understanding her unique experience. However, her Eastern European counselor employed significantly different strategies compared to typical American therapeutic approaches, which proved to be more effective.
Global Perspective
In contrast to North America, other countries lag behind in terms of mental health acceptance, maintaining more dated perceptions of how mental health should be dealt with. For example, fifteen-year-old Ella Quesada's experience in France demonstrates a stark difference in ideologies regarding mental health, particularly in North America and France. The prospect of seeking therapy is less commonly seen as a sign of weakness, but more as an act of self-care and courage in America.
According to Our World in Data, the global average perceived discomfort when discussing mental health issues is 27.0%, with North America having only 17.1%. The increased access to information through social media and 24/7 news cycles is believed to be a significant factor in the increased stress levels among younger generations, particularly due to issues like mass shootings that occur frequently in schools or educational settings, causing significant anxiety among 75 percent of Gen Z members.
Dr. Arthur C. Evans, APA's Chief Executive Officer, stated that young people are feeling the impact of current events more than other age groups, particularly those issues that may feel beyond their control. The digital era has led to a culture of sharing thoughts and emotions, making young people more vocal about their mental health struggles.
The high percentage of Gen Z reporting fair or poor mental health could indicate increased awareness and acceptance of mental health issues. Gen Z is 37 percent more likely to go to therapy or receive mental health treatment than other generational groups. A 2022 study found that 23 percent of American adults had visited a mental health professional, up from 13 percent in 2004.
Zach Gottlieb, a 17-year-old founder of Talk With Zach, emphasizes the importance of being "comfortable with discomfort" for younger generations. He believes that this discomfort, when faced head-on, can lead to growth and healing. Tara Tomic also found solace in her friends and loved ones during her struggle with mental health, proving that support systems are crucial in the journey towards mental wellness.
Understanding mental health within a broader context, shaped by societal shifts and individual experiences, is crucial in the rapidly evolving mental health landscape. As Gen Z continues to grow and mature, it is hoped that their openness and advocacy will continue to challenge stigma and improve mental health services for all.
- The decrease in mental health stigma among Generation Z (Gen Z) is attributed to increased openness, advocacy, and digital exposure to mental health topics, as evident in their normalization of conversations about anxiety, therapy, and emotional struggles on social media.
- Gen Z values authenticity and rejects posturing around mental health, as seen in their willingness to openly discuss personal mental health struggles such as anxiety and to share experiences of therapy, thus helping to normalize these practices.
- The cultural diversity of Gen Z fosters a broader worldview that values inclusion and mental wellness as fundamental rights, encouraging acceptance and reducing shame associated with mental health.
- Mental health education and activism by Gen Z have increased awareness, challenged stereotypes, and fostered supportive attitudes, all contributing to stigma reduction not only within their generation but in the broader society as well.
