In times past, little thought was given to the importance of good mental health. As a result, scores of individuals developed myriad emotional and psychological ailments, ranging from intergenerational trauma to chronic anxiety.
Thankfully, attitudes have changed over the last several decades and, as a result, society now places a greater emphasis on the process of maintaining mental wellness. Still, there’s room for improvement: communities have the power to radically improve mental health states for future generations by helping young people of today achieve optimal wellness.
Key mental health challenges faced by millennials and members of Generation Z face include:
Stress and anxiety
More and more individuals in early adulthood report consistent experiences of stress and anxiety than ever before. While there are many contributing factors, this steep increase seems to have developed somewhere in the 2010s and continues to take its toll today.
Loneliness
Feelings of loneliness and isolation are becoming increasingly commonplace among younger generations, with fewer individuals from this demographic reporting that they have a robust social network of friends.
Difficulty with interpersonal skills
While young people may be adept at digital media, this seems to have negatively impacted their ability to communicate in person. The pandemic has only exacerbated this situation and further made it difficult for many to communicate with others.
Although the outlook may look grim, there are ways society can come together to improve young people’s wellbeing. By engaging in practices that accomplish this goal, society can benefit generations to come in many ways, from achieving healthcare justice to cultivating greater interconnectedness.
Here are two benefits that can come from addressing the mental health struggles of millennials and Gen Z:
Improved relationships
Helping younger generations overcome communication challenges can have a major positive impact, resulting in better (in-person) social networks, decreased loneliness, and a new lease on life.
Better parenting
While older generations are keen to help young people overcome their struggles, they aren’t always equipped to do so. One reason for this could be that this group didn’t grow up with the same stressful and negative factors that affect young people today.
Still, helping millennials and Gen Z with their mental health has a trickle-down effect that allows them to become better, more effective parents in the future.
As a result, they will be able to break the cycle of struggle and help their own children achieve optimal states of mental wellbeing, leading to a brighter outlook for future generations.
Read more articles by Dennis Relojo-Howell here.
Dennis Relojo-Howell is the managing director of Psychreg and host of ‘The DRH Show’. Connect with him on X (Twitter) at @dennisr_howell.