Millennials report higher incidences of mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Is this fact or fiction? A study by the Mental Health Foundation found that millennials are more likely to seek help for mental health issues than previous generations, with a 26% increase in treatment across a 4-year period. Additionally, a report by World Metrics revealed that 48% of millennials experience depression or anxiety, and 25% have been diagnosed with a mental health condition.
Contributing Factors.
Several factors contribute to the heightened mental health challenges among millennials:
- Economic Pressures: Financial instability, student debt, and job insecurity are significant stressors. Financial strain can lead to feelings of inadequacy, worry about basic needs, and a sense of hopelessness. Pre-existing mental health conditions can also exacerbate financial difficulties, creating a cycle of stress and challenging financial management.
- Workplace Stress: A survey by Reed (published in the Times) found that 94% of 25- to 34-year-olds report symptoms of burnout and exhaustion due to work-related stress, with nearly half having taken time off for mental health reasons. Poor working environments, including discrimination and inequality, excessive workloads, low job control can also be influencing factors. Businesses have been proactive and implemented strong wellness policies given the growth of remote /hybrid working that can leave some, feeling isolated. Recommendations include, regular breaks, “check ins” with colleagues, removing themselves from their workstation, help lines and support groups.
- Social Media Impact: Increased social media use has been linked to mental health issues among millennials. Although one could argue that it helps them keep in touch with friends and forms a bond in supportive online communities. In turn, they can implement immediate copy strategies. A consistency across all generations is the recognition that face-to-face social relationships play a unique and critical role in their lives and overall well-being
Comparison with other generations
Millennials report lower mental health and emotional well-being compared to older generations. A YouGov survey indicated that only 37% of millennials consider themselves mentally healthy, compared to 60% of baby boomers . Furthermore, a study published in the National Institutes of Health found that millennials and Gen Zers have higher rates of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder compared to Gen Xers and Baby Boomers.
Conclusion
There is so much evidence to suggest that millennials are facing significant mental health challenges, influenced by economic, social, and technological factors. However, the generations who have not been open to discussing mental health and seeking help, would in some cases, debate that it’s not worse, it’s as simple as there was no platform to discuss this topic and therefore it was more a case of ‘dusting themselves down and getting through another day’.
I personally support the view in recognising mental health as a medical condition. Like physical illnesses, they can be diagnosed and treated by professionals. However it presents itself in various forms from normal fluctuations in mood to more serious disorders that require medical intervention.