Why Gen Z Is Facing a Mental Health Crisis

Young, Anxious and Overwhelmed

Gen Z,  those born between the mid-1990s and early 2010s ,  are the most digitally connected, socially conscious, and culturally adaptive generation in history. They are bold, educated, and unafraid to challenge outdated systems.

But behind the creativity, activism, and TikTok virality lies a growing mental health emergency.

This is the generation most likely to be anxious, most likely to be depressed, and most likely to say they feel overwhelmed on a daily basis. And if we continue to ignore the scale and complexity of what they’re facing, the consequences for their futures,  and for ours, will be profound.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Data paints a stark picture:

• According to the NHS Digital Mental Health of Children and Young People report (2023), 1 in 5 young people aged 8 to 25 in the UK now has a probable mental health disorder. That’s a 60% increase since 2017.
• A 2022 survey by YoungMinds found that nearly 60% of young people say their mental health has gotten worse in the past year,  and only 11% felt optimistic about their future.
• The Prince’s Trust Youth Index revealed that 46% of Gen Z respondents said they feel hopeless about their futures,  the highest figure in the survey’s 15-year history.

This isn’t just a rough patch. It’s a generation-wide emergency.

What’s Fueling the Crisis?

There is no single cause, but there are clear patterns.

Constant Comparison and Digital Burnout

Gen Z is the first generation to grow up entirely online. From Instagram filters to LinkedIn success stories, the internet offers an endless loop of “not enough.” Not smart enough. Not successful enough. Not attractive, productive, or thriving enough.

Social media doesn’t just increase anxiety,  it alters identity formation, sleep cycles, and self-worth. According to the Royal Society for Public Health, social media platforms are directly linked to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and poor body image in young users.

A World in Crisis

Gen Z grew up amidst economic recessions, a pandemic, political instability, climate disasters, and now a cost-of-living crisis. They’re being told to “plan for the future” in a world that often feels like it has none.

Psychologists call this eco-anxiety and pre-traumatic stress,  conditions where the anticipation of future trauma (climate collapse, job insecurity, global conflict) causes chronic distress in the present.

Academic and Professional Pressures

From an early age, Gen Z has been under relentless pressure to achieve,  exam scores, UCAS applications, internships, side hustles, personal brands. And yet, despite their education and adaptability, many feel locked out of home ownership, stable careers, and financial independence.

A recent report from Student Minds found that 74% of university students say their mental health negatively affects their academic performance. The expectations are high,  and the scaffolding often missing.

Lack of Accessible Mental Health Support

Perhaps most tragically, the systems meant to support young people are struggling to keep up. CAMHS referrals have surged, wait times are long, and many young people don’t meet the clinical thresholds for support,  yet are clearly struggling.

Young people are being told to “talk about it”,  but when they do, the help isn’t always there.

What Gen Z Needs from Us Now

This isn’t just about therapy access or digital detoxes. It’s about reimagining how we support a generation that’s under pressure from all sides.

Here’s what Gen Z is asking for, and what we all need to deliver:

Early, Proactive Mental Health Education

Mental health shouldn’t be a reactive conversation. Gen Z wants tools, not just talks. They want to learn how to manage anxiety, understand emotions, and build resilience before crisis hits.

Psychological education needs to be embedded in schools, universities, and onboarding programmes,  not treated as an afterthought.

Real Conversations, Not Just Campaigns

Awareness is important,  but it’s not enough. Gen Z wants honesty. They want adults who don’t sugar-coat reality, who are willing to talk about failure, burnout, and vulnerability without shame.

As employers, educators, and leaders, that means modelling authenticity. It means saying “me too” and “I don’t have all the answers,” not “just be more resilient.”

Systems That Work,  Not Just Advice to “Self-Care”

Self-care can’t solve systemic burnout. Gen Z needs services that meet demand, workplaces that prioritise wellbeing, and governments that treat mental health with the urgency it deserves.

If we keep telling young people to meditate while ignoring 6-month NHS waitlists, we’re missing the point.

Spaces to Build Real Resilience

Resilience isn’t just about coping. It’s about adaptation, agency, and support. It’s something that can be taught, practised, and nurtured,  especially when the right tools are available.

At PsycApps, our Resilience Development Programme is designed with these realities in mind. We don’t expect young people to be “stronger.” We help them become more flexible, more self-aware, more supported. Not in spite of the pressure they face, but because of it.

This Generation Isn’t Weak, They’re Awake

Let’s be very clear: Gen Z is not broken. They are emotionally literate, socially aware, and willing to have the conversations many older generations avoided.

They are not “too sensitive”,  they are just the first to stop pretending they’re fine.

If they’re anxious, it’s because the world they’ve inherited is anxious. If they’re overwhelmed, it’s because they’re trying to do more with less. If they’re struggling, it’s not because they’re fragile, it’s because they’re awake.

A Call to Action, Not Pity

We don’t need to “fix” Gen Z. We need to listen to them, invest in them, and stand with them.

That means:

• Funding youth mental health services.
• Prioritising emotional literacy in education.
• Challenging toxic productivity norms.
• Creating workplaces that don’t punish vulnerability.
• Building resilience with young people, not just for them.

Because this crisis isn’t theirs alone,  it belongs to all of us. And if we get this right, we won’t just help one generation heal, we’ll transform the future for every generation to come.

Explore our CPD-Certified Resilience Development Programme to start your journey today.