Generation Z (Zoomers) – Top 5 Mental Health Statistics to Know

Hey Friends,

As I embark upon this new lane of discussing mental health, we need to address a few essential items before this blog can go any further:

1. We must define ‘mental health’ and what it is.
2. We must understand the key statistics surrounding the younger generation’s mental health and why it’s such a big deal.
3. We must come to terms with what these statistics tell us and where we go from here.

What is ‘Mental Health’?

MentalHealth.gov defines mental health as “Our emotional, psychological, and social well-being.” As the definition states, mental health is with us every single second of every single day. It affects our feelings regarding whether we’re sad, happy, or angry. It affects our thoughts and how we’re able to process information and form conclusions. Lastly, it affects our ability to socialize and create connections with other people. Mental health forms who we are, so it’s essential to talk about it.

Now that we understand mental health, you might still ask yourself, why do I care? That’s a good question. So, being the curious mind that I am, I decided to do some research. In preparing for this article, I spent a few hours scouring the internet, trying to grasp the magnitude of the mental health struggles plaguing the younger generation. Although there were countless statistics, I found five worth mentioning, so I’m here to share them with you.

1. Only 45% of Generation Z report that their mental health is ‘very good or ‘excellent’

In a survey conducted by the Harris Poll, the American Psychological Association found that only 45% of Generation Z respondents claimed that their mental health was ‘very good’ or ‘excellent.’ For comparison, 56% of Millennials responded the same, 51% of Generation X, and 70% of Baby Boomers! The most shocking aspect of this statistic is that the generation with their whole lives ahead of them (Generation Z) is in a worse mental state than those on the tail-end of theirs (Baby Boomers).

Source: APA, (2018), Stress in America: Generation Z

2. Generation Z is also more likely (27%) than other generations to report their mental health as ‘fair’ or ‘poor’

A clear pattern emerges regarding how Generation Z feels based on their responses to these questions. In conjunction with the first statistic, the American Psychological Association discovered that Generation Z is more likely to report their mental health as ‘fair’ or ‘poor.’ In the same survey, 27% of Generation Z respondents claimed their mental health as such. Compared with 15% of Millennials and more than double (13%) of Baby Boomers that answered the same. Not only is Generation Z less likely to report that their mental health is good, but they’re also more likely to report that their mental health is terrible.

3. More than 9 in 10 (91%) of Generation Z adults said they had experienced at least one physical or emotional symptom because of stress

The same poll used in the first two statistics stumbled upon another startling statistic. According to the survey, 91% (more than 9 in 10) of Generation Z adults say they have experienced at least one physical or emotional symptom because of stress. These physical or emotional symptoms are being depressed or sad (58%) and lacking motivation, interest, or energy (55%). To put that into perspective, let’s think about a college classroom. For this example, let’s assume you’re taking an introductory finance class of thirty people. Based on this research, only three people in that class have not experienced at least one physical or emotional symptom because of stress. The overwhelming majority of Generation Z adults are greatly affected by stress.

4. Nearly 8 in 10 Gen Zers said that they felt alone

With Generation Z growing up in the hyper-connected world of the internet, you would think that we would feel less alone than ever. However, we’re the loneliest generation of them all. According to a survey conducted in the summer of 2019 by the insurance company Cigna, 79% of Generation Z adults (ages 18-22) said they felt alone, compared with 71% of Millennials and only 50% of Baby Boomers. It makes sense if you think about it for a second. Why go out for a drink with someone when you can Facetime them? Why grab coffee with an old friend when you can text them? Hyperconnectivity has blinded us to proper connectivity.

Source: Ipsos Polling for Cigna U.S. Loneliness Index

5. 62.4% of Generation Z believed that mental health and personal well-being were significant to them

Generation Z cares a great deal about their mental health. According to a survey conducted by Statista from October 2021 – July 2022, 62.4% of Generation Z respondents believed that mental health and well-being were significant to them. This percentage contrasts with the measly 8.4% of respondents who claimed that their mental health and personal well-being were either unimportant or not important at all. This statistic is a promising sign if we want to continue to bring awareness to this issue and find solutions.

What Now?

The main goal of this article was to explore statistics surrounding Generation Z and its relationship with mental health. We learned that Generation Z is less likely to classify their mental health as ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ and more likely to rank their mental health as ‘fair’ or ‘poor.’ We learned that a vast majority of Generation Z adults are affected by stress and have exhibited emotional or physical symptoms relating to that stress. Generation Z is also the loneliest, as nearly 80% of adults feel alone. Lastly, Generation Z also emphasizes their mental health and managing it. Based on these statistics, there is undoubtedly doom and gloom, but there is also light at the end of the tunnel.

As always, thank you for taking the time to read my article! If you enjoy content like this and are looking for ways to prioritize your mental health, be sure to sign up for my newsletter. In addition, head on over to my contact page so you can follow me on all social media. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Stay Mindful!