--- description: Breaking news and analysis from time.com. Politics, world news, photos, video, tech reviews, health, science, and entertainment news. title: Can Generation Z Change How We Think About Wellbeing and Mental Health? image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt75278d7964cc5c32/6a4b527a5fed026b6ea48a24/2A438FF3DBA24E9988B48E82F11D3067.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 --- # Can Generation Z Change How We Think About Wellbeing and Mental Health?  Have you noticed how you can’t open your Twitter feed, TikTok account or Sunday supplement without being reminded that wellbeing is a bit of a hot topic? We are inundated at every turn with advice, programs, or invitations to rustic retreats, imploring us to eat better, exercise more, meditate, destress, detox, or rebalance. Nowhere is this more apparent than amongst [Generation Z](https://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk?ntv%5Fat=4,29&ntv%5Fui=676574b8-4239-45e0-973e-c49a17ea424a&ntv%5Fa=rwkIATmBaAtV4SA&ntv%5Ffl=H8%5FNIX%5FfVs0Ik5QLWe2EYHNVaVl9Z%5FoPpSo7HNtthPuxnPMUinohHwEZVsC%5FKIvoC3marVAe04PLsb5gW1Ehsf%5Fl0qLRhx5oola1Ft7j8iztUR%5F1ouLTAKM7GsWJlPM4x5D1shUV16EICZOnRtjHLAVS-KgSHMsN2iji9oXe%5FRJiC9zIZGBiNjpuZnL4v9fW0LQhw1EhzjOOwZlpl-yQ-wYyhMv6iSK1p782y76bauM0ajCJ9oxeR2qFFkIVEdM6wCi23Mc5SP20AYfIodlcGPze9kXs3oY7PutOGTif9zK4KiJLRjN9NVvPP9Y1gvemAUExTbvXIgfHYNWlhX6kdvopTmdLv5QqSqQANSpGy4Z8T9rfLp34e0rMJ9fhrm39nGsw1BoQiDezhUlsgo3y6xUGX3f-lcVnqTsfxiVNU%5FFSxf792kUXUShNmrV-W6Tih0rFbmnBBIkdpfevsT-XQCfxA7Ii%5FqDZwHlLdm-ryqgMFCLenlM-Zx3157V57aDS4ZuFuGcne59Ybkp8N3Cl%5Fkw%5FsRM157Cztv8dKRghCZhYcp67AVyyYKIYdOnPwVUx&ord=259501151&ntv%5Fht=LyIMagA&prx%5Fr=https://www.investopedia.com/generation-z-gen-z-definition-5218554 "undefined") (born between 1997 and 2012). Of course, wellbeing may well deserve the limelight. It isn’t a single concept or action you take; it’s multidimensional in nature. It comprises [key elements](https://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk?ntv%5Fat=4,29&ntv%5Fui=676574b8-4239-45e0-973e-c49a17ea424a&ntv%5Fa=rwkIATmBaAtV4SA&ntv%5Ffl=H8%5FNIX%5FfVs0Ik5QLWe2EYHNVaVl9Z%5FoPpSo7HNtthPuxnPMUinohHwEZVsC%5FKIvoC3marVAe04PLsb5gW1Ehsf%5Fl0qLRhx5oola1Ft7j8iztUR%5F1ouLTAKM7GsWJlPM4x5D1shUV16EICZOnRtjHLAVS-KgSHMsN2iji9oXe%5FRJiC9zIZGBiNjpuZnL4v9fW0LQhw1EhzjOOwZlpl-yQ-wYyhMv6iSK1p782y76bauM0ajCJ9oxeR2qFFkIVEdM6wCi23Mc5SP20AYfIodlcGPze9kXs3oY7PutOGTif9zK4KiJLRjN9NVvPP9Y1gvemAUExTbvXIgfHYNWlhX6kdvopTmdLv5QqSqQANSpGy4Z8T9rfLp34e0rMJ9fhrm39nGsw1BoQiDezhUlsgo3y6xUGX3f-lcVnqTsfxiVNU%5FFSxf792kUXUShNmrV-W6Tih0rFbmnBBIkdpfevsT-XQCfxA7Ii%5FqDZwHlLdm-ryqgMFCLenlM-Zx3157V57aDS4ZuFuGcne59Ybkp8N3Cl%5Fkw%5FsRM157Cztv8dKRghCZhYcp67AVyyYKIYdOnPwVUx&ord=259501151&ntv%5Fht=LyIMagA&prx%5Fr=https://www.wellbeingpeople.com/2018/07/20/what-does-wellbeing-actually-mean/ "undefined") that help make us who we are - what makes us human: * The physical - our lifestyle choices, what we eat and our level of activity. * The mental and emotional - how we think and feel. * The social - how we communicate and form relationships, our values and beliefs that connect us with others. * The spiritual - our sense of purpose and meaning. * The intellectual - our relationship with knowledge and creativity and, * The financial - our economic security and progress. Wellbeing is prominent and ubiquitous in social discourse because Generation Z are probably the first generation to give wellbeing the attention that it’s due. And it is their voice that is in the ascendancy. It is to them we increasingly turn as we seek answers to some of life’s biggest challenges. #### The Role of Mental Health in Wellbeing Given the all-encompassing nature of wellbeing, it probably does not surprise you to hear that your state of mental health is intimately related to your ability to achieve a sense of wellbeing, and hence your sense of fulfillment and happiness. The World Health Organization (WHO) [defines mental health](https://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk?ntv%5Fat=4,29&ntv%5Fui=676574b8-4239-45e0-973e-c49a17ea424a&ntv%5Fa=rwkIATmBaAtV4SA&ntv%5Ffl=H8%5FNIX%5FfVs0Ik5QLWe2EYHNVaVl9Z%5FoPpSo7HNtthPuxnPMUinohHwEZVsC%5FKIvoC3marVAe04PLsb5gW1Ehsf%5Fl0qLRhx5oola1Ft7j8iztUR%5F1ouLTAKM7GsWJlPM4x5D1shUV16EICZOnRtjHLAVS-KgSHMsN2iji9oXe%5FRJiC9zIZGBiNjpuZnL4v9fW0LQhw1EhzjOOwZlpl-yQ-wYyhMv6iSK1p782y76bauM0ajCJ9oxeR2qFFkIVEdM6wCi23Mc5SP20AYfIodlcGPze9kXs3oY7PutOGTif9zK4KiJLRjN9NVvPP9Y1gvemAUExTbvXIgfHYNWlhX6kdvopTmdLv5QqSqQANSpGy4Z8T9rfLp34e0rMJ9fhrm39nGsw1BoQiDezhUlsgo3y6xUGX3f-lcVnqTsfxiVNU%5FFSxf792kUXUShNmrV-W6Tih0rFbmnBBIkdpfevsT-XQCfxA7Ii%5FqDZwHlLdm-ryqgMFCLenlM-Zx3157V57aDS4ZuFuGcne59Ybkp8N3Cl%5Fkw%5FsRM157Cztv8dKRghCZhYcp67AVyyYKIYdOnPwVUx&ord=259501151&ntv%5Fht=LyIMagA&prx%5Fr=https://www.mhinnovation.net/sites/default/files/downloads/resource/APPG%5FMental-Health%5FWeb.pdf "undefined") as “a state of wellbeing in which every individual realizes his or her own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to her or his community”. Yet despite the interrelationship between wellbeing and mental health, we seem as a society to have been more comfortable talking about the one and strangely, to skip over the other.  #### The Impact of Mental Health on People and Society No doubt our reticence has historical foundations - the stigma attached to mental health is well-entrenched in the collective consciousness, reinforced through generations of literature and art. Our brains are primed to retrieve Goya’s _Madhouse_ or the fate of Nicholon’s McMurphy in _One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,_ at the first mention of mental health problems. And our reaction is rarely intellectual, rather it comes from the gut; visceral and highly charged. We wince in pity and fear. But despite our conditioning, the reluctance to talk about and effectively address mental health is in itself somewhat mystifying given its pervasiveness in our lives, and its cost to society. Few of us have escaped its clutches. Who has known a life completely free of some form of mental health issue, be it mild anxiety or severe depression? And no doubt we all have known a relative or friend who has had a mental health issue of some kind or other. We are then acutely aware of how disrupting and devastating mental health issues can be in our lives: far reaching effects not just to the afflicted but to those around us, those who are most important in our lives. These are not isolated cases. When discussing mental health issues we really need to be thinking at scale, both at the level of incidence and social consequence. #### The Numbers Are Daunting At any one time 10% of the world’s population has a mental health problem and 75% of these occur in [low and middle income countries](https://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk?ntv%5Fat=4,29&ntv%5Fui=676574b8-4239-45e0-973e-c49a17ea424a&ntv%5Fa=rwkIATmBaAtV4SA&ntv%5Ffl=H8%5FNIX%5FfVs0Ik5QLWe2EYHNVaVl9Z%5FoPpSo7HNtthPuxnPMUinohHwEZVsC%5FKIvoC3marVAe04PLsb5gW1Ehsf%5Fl0qLRhx5oola1Ft7j8iztUR%5F1ouLTAKM7GsWJlPM4x5D1shUV16EICZOnRtjHLAVS-KgSHMsN2iji9oXe%5FRJiC9zIZGBiNjpuZnL4v9fW0LQhw1EhzjOOwZlpl-yQ-wYyhMv6iSK1p782y76bauM0ajCJ9oxeR2qFFkIVEdM6wCi23Mc5SP20AYfIodlcGPze9kXs3oY7PutOGTif9zK4KiJLRjN9NVvPP9Y1gvemAUExTbvXIgfHYNWlhX6kdvopTmdLv5QqSqQANSpGy4Z8T9rfLp34e0rMJ9fhrm39nGsw1BoQiDezhUlsgo3y6xUGX3f-lcVnqTsfxiVNU%5FFSxf792kUXUShNmrV-W6Tih0rFbmnBBIkdpfevsT-XQCfxA7Ii%5FqDZwHlLdm-ryqgMFCLenlM-Zx3157V57aDS4ZuFuGcne59Ybkp8N3Cl%5Fkw%5FsRM157Cztv8dKRghCZhYcp67AVyyYKIYdOnPwVUx&ord=259501151&ntv%5Fht=LyIMagA&prx%5Fr=https://www.mhinnovation.net/sites/default/files/downloads/resource/APPG%5FMental-Health%5FWeb.pdf "undefined"). All aspects of life are affected, from ability to perform at school or work, loss of personal income, ability to maintain healthy relationships, parenting, domestic violence, substance abuse, to unsustainable health care costs and loss of national productivity. The World Economic Forum, for instance, estimates the [yearly global cost](https://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk?ntv%5Fat=4,29&ntv%5Fui=676574b8-4239-45e0-973e-c49a17ea424a&ntv%5Fa=rwkIATmBaAtV4SA&ntv%5Ffl=H8%5FNIX%5FfVs0Ik5QLWe2EYHNVaVl9Z%5FoPpSo7HNtthPuxnPMUinohHwEZVsC%5FKIvoC3marVAe04PLsb5gW1Ehsf%5Fl0qLRhx5oola1Ft7j8iztUR%5F1ouLTAKM7GsWJlPM4x5D1shUV16EICZOnRtjHLAVS-KgSHMsN2iji9oXe%5FRJiC9zIZGBiNjpuZnL4v9fW0LQhw1EhzjOOwZlpl-yQ-wYyhMv6iSK1p782y76bauM0ajCJ9oxeR2qFFkIVEdM6wCi23Mc5SP20AYfIodlcGPze9kXs3oY7PutOGTif9zK4KiJLRjN9NVvPP9Y1gvemAUExTbvXIgfHYNWlhX6kdvopTmdLv5QqSqQANSpGy4Z8T9rfLp34e0rMJ9fhrm39nGsw1BoQiDezhUlsgo3y6xUGX3f-lcVnqTsfxiVNU%5FFSxf792kUXUShNmrV-W6Tih0rFbmnBBIkdpfevsT-XQCfxA7Ii%5FqDZwHlLdm-ryqgMFCLenlM-Zx3157V57aDS4ZuFuGcne59Ybkp8N3Cl%5Fkw%5FsRM157Cztv8dKRghCZhYcp67AVyyYKIYdOnPwVUx&ord=259501151&ntv%5Fht=LyIMagA&prx%5Fr=https://www.mhinnovation.net/sites/default/files/downloads/resource/APPG%5FMental-Health%5FWeb.pdf "undefined") to be around $US2.5 trillion, rising to $US6 trillion by 2030\. In the US alone, just two common mental health conditions - depression and anxiety, are estimated to cost the US economy [US$1 trillion](https://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk?ntv%5Fat=4,29&ntv%5Fui=676574b8-4239-45e0-973e-c49a17ea424a&ntv%5Fa=rwkIATmBaAtV4SA&ntv%5Ffl=H8%5FNIX%5FfVs0Ik5QLWe2EYHNVaVl9Z%5FoPpSo7HNtthPuxnPMUinohHwEZVsC%5FKIvoC3marVAe04PLsb5gW1Ehsf%5Fl0qLRhx5oola1Ft7j8iztUR%5F1ouLTAKM7GsWJlPM4x5D1shUV16EICZOnRtjHLAVS-KgSHMsN2iji9oXe%5FRJiC9zIZGBiNjpuZnL4v9fW0LQhw1EhzjOOwZlpl-yQ-wYyhMv6iSK1p782y76bauM0ajCJ9oxeR2qFFkIVEdM6wCi23Mc5SP20AYfIodlcGPze9kXs3oY7PutOGTif9zK4KiJLRjN9NVvPP9Y1gvemAUExTbvXIgfHYNWlhX6kdvopTmdLv5QqSqQANSpGy4Z8T9rfLp34e0rMJ9fhrm39nGsw1BoQiDezhUlsgo3y6xUGX3f-lcVnqTsfxiVNU%5FFSxf792kUXUShNmrV-W6Tih0rFbmnBBIkdpfevsT-XQCfxA7Ii%5FqDZwHlLdm-ryqgMFCLenlM-Zx3157V57aDS4ZuFuGcne59Ybkp8N3Cl%5Fkw%5FsRM157Cztv8dKRghCZhYcp67AVyyYKIYdOnPwVUx&ord=259501151&ntv%5Fht=LyIMagA&prx%5Fr=https://www.who.int/health-topics/mental-health#tab=tab%5F1 "undefined") a year. For sufferers, early mortality is more the norm than the exception: globally, 8 million deaths each year are attributed to a [mental health problem](https://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk?ntv%5Fat=4,29&ntv%5Fui=676574b8-4239-45e0-973e-c49a17ea424a&ntv%5Fa=rwkIATmBaAtV4SA&ntv%5Ffl=H8%5FNIX%5FfVs0Ik5QLWe2EYHNVaVl9Z%5FoPpSo7HNtthPuxnPMUinohHwEZVsC%5FKIvoC3marVAe04PLsb5gW1Ehsf%5Fl0qLRhx5oola1Ft7j8iztUR%5F1ouLTAKM7GsWJlPM4x5D1shUV16EICZOnRtjHLAVS-KgSHMsN2iji9oXe%5FRJiC9zIZGBiNjpuZnL4v9fW0LQhw1EhzjOOwZlpl-yQ-wYyhMv6iSK1p782y76bauM0ajCJ9oxeR2qFFkIVEdM6wCi23Mc5SP20AYfIodlcGPze9kXs3oY7PutOGTif9zK4KiJLRjN9NVvPP9Y1gvemAUExTbvXIgfHYNWlhX6kdvopTmdLv5QqSqQANSpGy4Z8T9rfLp34e0rMJ9fhrm39nGsw1BoQiDezhUlsgo3y6xUGX3f-lcVnqTsfxiVNU%5FFSxf792kUXUShNmrV-W6Tih0rFbmnBBIkdpfevsT-XQCfxA7Ii%5FqDZwHlLdm-ryqgMFCLenlM-Zx3157V57aDS4ZuFuGcne59Ybkp8N3Cl%5Fkw%5FsRM157Cztv8dKRghCZhYcp67AVyyYKIYdOnPwVUx&ord=259501151&ntv%5Fht=LyIMagA&prx%5Fr=https://www.singlecare.com/blog/news/mental-health-statistics/ "undefined"). #### Generation Z at Risk Given these numbers it would not be a stretch to say world mental health is in a state of crisis. And there is growing evidence suggesting that Generation Z suffer more than most. Globally, those aged between 10-29 years old are most likely to evidence [early onset of a mental disorder](https://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk?ntv%5Fat=4,29&ntv%5Fui=676574b8-4239-45e0-973e-c49a17ea424a&ntv%5Fa=rwkIATmBaAtV4SA&ntv%5Ffl=H8%5FNIX%5FfVs0Ik5QLWe2EYHNVaVl9Z%5FoPpSo7HNtthPuxnPMUinohHwEZVsC%5FKIvoC3marVAe04PLsb5gW1Ehsf%5Fl0qLRhx5oola1Ft7j8iztUR%5F1ouLTAKM7GsWJlPM4x5D1shUV16EICZOnRtjHLAVS-KgSHMsN2iji9oXe%5FRJiC9zIZGBiNjpuZnL4v9fW0LQhw1EhzjOOwZlpl-yQ-wYyhMv6iSK1p782y76bauM0ajCJ9oxeR2qFFkIVEdM6wCi23Mc5SP20AYfIodlcGPze9kXs3oY7PutOGTif9zK4KiJLRjN9NVvPP9Y1gvemAUExTbvXIgfHYNWlhX6kdvopTmdLv5QqSqQANSpGy4Z8T9rfLp34e0rMJ9fhrm39nGsw1BoQiDezhUlsgo3y6xUGX3f-lcVnqTsfxiVNU%5FFSxf792kUXUShNmrV-W6Tih0rFbmnBBIkdpfevsT-XQCfxA7Ii%5FqDZwHlLdm-ryqgMFCLenlM-Zx3157V57aDS4ZuFuGcne59Ybkp8N3Cl%5Fkw%5FsRM157Cztv8dKRghCZhYcp67AVyyYKIYdOnPwVUx&ord=259501151&ntv%5Fht=LyIMagA&prx%5Fr=https://www.mhinnovation.net/sites/default/files/downloads/resource/APPG%5FMental-Health%5FWeb.pdf "undefined"). Around 20% of the world’s children and adolescents have a mental condition (compared to 10% of the total population). Suicide is the [leading cause of death](https://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk?ntv%5Fat=4,29&ntv%5Fui=676574b8-4239-45e0-973e-c49a17ea424a&ntv%5Fa=rwkIATmBaAtV4SA&ntv%5Ffl=H8%5FNIX%5FfVs0Ik5QLWe2EYHNVaVl9Z%5FoPpSo7HNtthPuxnPMUinohHwEZVsC%5FKIvoC3marVAe04PLsb5gW1Ehsf%5Fl0qLRhx5oola1Ft7j8iztUR%5F1ouLTAKM7GsWJlPM4x5D1shUV16EICZOnRtjHLAVS-KgSHMsN2iji9oXe%5FRJiC9zIZGBiNjpuZnL4v9fW0LQhw1EhzjOOwZlpl-yQ-wYyhMv6iSK1p782y76bauM0ajCJ9oxeR2qFFkIVEdM6wCi23Mc5SP20AYfIodlcGPze9kXs3oY7PutOGTif9zK4KiJLRjN9NVvPP9Y1gvemAUExTbvXIgfHYNWlhX6kdvopTmdLv5QqSqQANSpGy4Z8T9rfLp34e0rMJ9fhrm39nGsw1BoQiDezhUlsgo3y6xUGX3f-lcVnqTsfxiVNU%5FFSxf792kUXUShNmrV-W6Tih0rFbmnBBIkdpfevsT-XQCfxA7Ii%5FqDZwHlLdm-ryqgMFCLenlM-Zx3157V57aDS4ZuFuGcne59Ybkp8N3Cl%5Fkw%5FsRM157Cztv8dKRghCZhYcp67AVyyYKIYdOnPwVUx&ord=259501151&ntv%5Fht=LyIMagA&prx%5Fr=https://www.who.int/health-topics/mental-health#tab=tab%5F1 "undefined") among 15-29 year olds. And it’s only getting worse. Almost 14% of youth 11-17 years have had at least one depressive episode. And the rate of mental health issues in this group is [increasing year on year](https://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk?ntv%5Fat=4,29&ntv%5Fui=676574b8-4239-45e0-973e-c49a17ea424a&ntv%5Fa=rwkIATmBaAtV4SA&ntv%5Ffl=H8%5FNIX%5FfVs0Ik5QLWe2EYHNVaVl9Z%5FoPpSo7HNtthPuxnPMUinohHwEZVsC%5FKIvoC3marVAe04PLsb5gW1Ehsf%5Fl0qLRhx5oola1Ft7j8iztUR%5F1ouLTAKM7GsWJlPM4x5D1shUV16EICZOnRtjHLAVS-KgSHMsN2iji9oXe%5FRJiC9zIZGBiNjpuZnL4v9fW0LQhw1EhzjOOwZlpl-yQ-wYyhMv6iSK1p782y76bauM0ajCJ9oxeR2qFFkIVEdM6wCi23Mc5SP20AYfIodlcGPze9kXs3oY7PutOGTif9zK4KiJLRjN9NVvPP9Y1gvemAUExTbvXIgfHYNWlhX6kdvopTmdLv5QqSqQANSpGy4Z8T9rfLp34e0rMJ9fhrm39nGsw1BoQiDezhUlsgo3y6xUGX3f-lcVnqTsfxiVNU%5FFSxf792kUXUShNmrV-W6Tih0rFbmnBBIkdpfevsT-XQCfxA7Ii%5FqDZwHlLdm-ryqgMFCLenlM-Zx3157V57aDS4ZuFuGcne59Ybkp8N3Cl%5Fkw%5FsRM157Cztv8dKRghCZhYcp67AVyyYKIYdOnPwVUx&ord=259501151&ntv%5Fht=LyIMagA&prx%5Fr=https://mhanational.org/issues/2021/mental-health-america-prevalence-data "undefined"). What is behind the high level of mental health problems amongst the young? Apart from genetics, poverty, or environmental pollution, the key culprits are such things as sleep deprivation, work demands and pressure, inability to cope with external stressors such as life changes, and [over exposure](https://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk?ntv%5Fat=4,29&ntv%5Fui=676574b8-4239-45e0-973e-c49a17ea424a&ntv%5Fa=rwkIATmBaAtV4SA&ntv%5Ffl=H8%5FNIX%5FfVs0Ik5QLWe2EYHNVaVl9Z%5FoPpSo7HNtthPuxnPMUinohHwEZVsC%5FKIvoC3marVAe04PLsb5gW1Ehsf%5Fl0qLRhx5oola1Ft7j8iztUR%5F1ouLTAKM7GsWJlPM4x5D1shUV16EICZOnRtjHLAVS-KgSHMsN2iji9oXe%5FRJiC9zIZGBiNjpuZnL4v9fW0LQhw1EhzjOOwZlpl-yQ-wYyhMv6iSK1p782y76bauM0ajCJ9oxeR2qFFkIVEdM6wCi23Mc5SP20AYfIodlcGPze9kXs3oY7PutOGTif9zK4KiJLRjN9NVvPP9Y1gvemAUExTbvXIgfHYNWlhX6kdvopTmdLv5QqSqQANSpGy4Z8T9rfLp34e0rMJ9fhrm39nGsw1BoQiDezhUlsgo3y6xUGX3f-lcVnqTsfxiVNU%5FFSxf792kUXUShNmrV-W6Tih0rFbmnBBIkdpfevsT-XQCfxA7Ii%5FqDZwHlLdm-ryqgMFCLenlM-Zx3157V57aDS4ZuFuGcne59Ybkp8N3Cl%5Fkw%5FsRM157Cztv8dKRghCZhYcp67AVyyYKIYdOnPwVUx&ord=259501151&ntv%5Fht=LyIMagA&prx%5Fr=https://www.verywellmind.com/why-gen-z-is-more-open-to-talking-about-their-mental-health-5104730 "undefined") to the anxiety-producing constant barrage of bad news on social media. As much as one in three of us suffer from some form of insomnia. And lack of sleep has been found to decrease positive emotions and our ability to respond to negative emotional stressors. And this has been linked to [mental health issues](https://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk?ntv%5Fat=4,29&ntv%5Fui=676574b8-4239-45e0-973e-c49a17ea424a&ntv%5Fa=rwkIATmBaAtV4SA&ntv%5Ffl=H8%5FNIX%5FfVs0Ik5QLWe2EYHNVaVl9Z%5FoPpSo7HNtthPuxnPMUinohHwEZVsC%5FKIvoC3marVAe04PLsb5gW1Ehsf%5Fl0qLRhx5oola1Ft7j8iztUR%5F1ouLTAKM7GsWJlPM4x5D1shUV16EICZOnRtjHLAVS-KgSHMsN2iji9oXe%5FRJiC9zIZGBiNjpuZnL4v9fW0LQhw1EhzjOOwZlpl-yQ-wYyhMv6iSK1p782y76bauM0ajCJ9oxeR2qFFkIVEdM6wCi23Mc5SP20AYfIodlcGPze9kXs3oY7PutOGTif9zK4KiJLRjN9NVvPP9Y1gvemAUExTbvXIgfHYNWlhX6kdvopTmdLv5QqSqQANSpGy4Z8T9rfLp34e0rMJ9fhrm39nGsw1BoQiDezhUlsgo3y6xUGX3f-lcVnqTsfxiVNU%5FFSxf792kUXUShNmrV-W6Tih0rFbmnBBIkdpfevsT-XQCfxA7Ii%5FqDZwHlLdm-ryqgMFCLenlM-Zx3157V57aDS4ZuFuGcne59Ybkp8N3Cl%5Fkw%5FsRM157Cztv8dKRghCZhYcp67AVyyYKIYdOnPwVUx&ord=259501151&ntv%5Fht=LyIMagA&prx%5Fr=https://www.columbiapsychiatry.org/news/how-sleep-deprivation-affects-your-mental-health "undefined") such as depression and anxiety. Generation Z’s behavioral dependency on social media is emerging as a leading contributor to an epidemic of sleep disturbance and insomnia, [further exacerbating](https://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk?ntv%5Fat=4,29&ntv%5Fui=676574b8-4239-45e0-973e-c49a17ea424a&ntv%5Fa=rwkIATmBaAtV4SA&ntv%5Ffl=H8%5FNIX%5FfVs0Ik5QLWe2EYHNVaVl9Z%5FoPpSo7HNtthPuxnPMUinohHwEZVsC%5FKIvoC3marVAe04PLsb5gW1Ehsf%5Fl0qLRhx5oola1Ft7j8iztUR%5F1ouLTAKM7GsWJlPM4x5D1shUV16EICZOnRtjHLAVS-KgSHMsN2iji9oXe%5FRJiC9zIZGBiNjpuZnL4v9fW0LQhw1EhzjOOwZlpl-yQ-wYyhMv6iSK1p782y76bauM0ajCJ9oxeR2qFFkIVEdM6wCi23Mc5SP20AYfIodlcGPze9kXs3oY7PutOGTif9zK4KiJLRjN9NVvPP9Y1gvemAUExTbvXIgfHYNWlhX6kdvopTmdLv5QqSqQANSpGy4Z8T9rfLp34e0rMJ9fhrm39nGsw1BoQiDezhUlsgo3y6xUGX3f-lcVnqTsfxiVNU%5FFSxf792kUXUShNmrV-W6Tih0rFbmnBBIkdpfevsT-XQCfxA7Ii%5FqDZwHlLdm-ryqgMFCLenlM-Zx3157V57aDS4ZuFuGcne59Ybkp8N3Cl%5Fkw%5FsRM157Cztv8dKRghCZhYcp67AVyyYKIYdOnPwVUx&ord=259501151&ntv%5Fht=LyIMagA&prx%5Fr=https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/mental-health/gen-z-depression/ "undefined") psychological stressors and the onset of mental health issues.  #### Changing our Approach Despite the prevalence and the cost of mental health on overall wellbeing and social development, we have been guilty of dragging our feet, both in the sense of acknowledging the causes and facing the consequences of mental health problems, as well as a societal commitment to addressing them. For instance, the World Health Organization estimates that governments, world-wide, spend [less than 2%](https://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk?ntv%5Fat=4,29&ntv%5Fui=676574b8-4239-45e0-973e-c49a17ea424a&ntv%5Fa=rwkIATmBaAtV4SA&ntv%5Ffl=H8%5FNIX%5FfVs0Ik5QLWe2EYHNVaVl9Z%5FoPpSo7HNtthPuxnPMUinohHwEZVsC%5FKIvoC3marVAe04PLsb5gW1Ehsf%5Fl0qLRhx5oola1Ft7j8iztUR%5F1ouLTAKM7GsWJlPM4x5D1shUV16EICZOnRtjHLAVS-KgSHMsN2iji9oXe%5FRJiC9zIZGBiNjpuZnL4v9fW0LQhw1EhzjOOwZlpl-yQ-wYyhMv6iSK1p782y76bauM0ajCJ9oxeR2qFFkIVEdM6wCi23Mc5SP20AYfIodlcGPze9kXs3oY7PutOGTif9zK4KiJLRjN9NVvPP9Y1gvemAUExTbvXIgfHYNWlhX6kdvopTmdLv5QqSqQANSpGy4Z8T9rfLp34e0rMJ9fhrm39nGsw1BoQiDezhUlsgo3y6xUGX3f-lcVnqTsfxiVNU%5FFSxf792kUXUShNmrV-W6Tih0rFbmnBBIkdpfevsT-XQCfxA7Ii%5FqDZwHlLdm-ryqgMFCLenlM-Zx3157V57aDS4ZuFuGcne59Ybkp8N3Cl%5Fkw%5FsRM157Cztv8dKRghCZhYcp67AVyyYKIYdOnPwVUx&ord=259501151&ntv%5Fht=LyIMagA&prx%5Fr=https://www.who.int/health-topics/mental-health#tab=tab%5F1 "undefined") of their total health budget on mental health. But there is hope that the tide may be turning in how we deal with mental health. And that hope resides in Generation Z. Generation Z have a different way of approaching wellbeing and mental health than other generations such as Generation X and Boomers. Unlike their predecessors, they are more inclined to acknowledge and activate the connection between wellbeing and mental health. Seeing mental health issues as a natural part of life, something to be faced head-on, like a physical illness, and in the facing, balance is more likely to be restored: A fruitful solution that results from open and frank discussion with family and friends, sharing or accessing advice on social media. They are also more likely to be [health-aware](https://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk?ntv%5Fat=4,29&ntv%5Fui=676574b8-4239-45e0-973e-c49a17ea424a&ntv%5Fa=rwkIATmBaAtV4SA&ntv%5Ffl=H8%5FNIX%5FfVs0Ik5QLWe2EYHNVaVl9Z%5FoPpSo7HNtthPuxnPMUinohHwEZVsC%5FKIvoC3marVAe04PLsb5gW1Ehsf%5Fl0qLRhx5oola1Ft7j8iztUR%5F1ouLTAKM7GsWJlPM4x5D1shUV16EICZOnRtjHLAVS-KgSHMsN2iji9oXe%5FRJiC9zIZGBiNjpuZnL4v9fW0LQhw1EhzjOOwZlpl-yQ-wYyhMv6iSK1p782y76bauM0ajCJ9oxeR2qFFkIVEdM6wCi23Mc5SP20AYfIodlcGPze9kXs3oY7PutOGTif9zK4KiJLRjN9NVvPP9Y1gvemAUExTbvXIgfHYNWlhX6kdvopTmdLv5QqSqQANSpGy4Z8T9rfLp34e0rMJ9fhrm39nGsw1BoQiDezhUlsgo3y6xUGX3f-lcVnqTsfxiVNU%5FFSxf792kUXUShNmrV-W6Tih0rFbmnBBIkdpfevsT-XQCfxA7Ii%5FqDZwHlLdm-ryqgMFCLenlM-Zx3157V57aDS4ZuFuGcne59Ybkp8N3Cl%5Fkw%5FsRM157Cztv8dKRghCZhYcp67AVyyYKIYdOnPwVUx&ord=259501151&ntv%5Fht=LyIMagA&prx%5Fr=http://10.https://www.healthclubmanagement.co.uk/health-club-management-features/Consumer-trends-Generation-Z/32326 "undefined"), engage in wellbeing-promoting activities and to adopt a healthy lifestyle. And while Generation Z are also active healthy eaters, they seek solutions to the environmental impact of food production and more information on how [food choice](https://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk?ntv%5Fat=4,29&ntv%5Fui=676574b8-4239-45e0-973e-c49a17ea424a&ntv%5Fa=rwkIATmBaAtV4SA&ntv%5Ffl=H8%5FNIX%5FfVs0Ik5QLWe2EYHNVaVl9Z%5FoPpSo7HNtthPuxnPMUinohHwEZVsC%5FKIvoC3marVAe04PLsb5gW1Ehsf%5Fl0qLRhx5oola1Ft7j8iztUR%5F1ouLTAKM7GsWJlPM4x5D1shUV16EICZOnRtjHLAVS-KgSHMsN2iji9oXe%5FRJiC9zIZGBiNjpuZnL4v9fW0LQhw1EhzjOOwZlpl-yQ-wYyhMv6iSK1p782y76bauM0ajCJ9oxeR2qFFkIVEdM6wCi23Mc5SP20AYfIodlcGPze9kXs3oY7PutOGTif9zK4KiJLRjN9NVvPP9Y1gvemAUExTbvXIgfHYNWlhX6kdvopTmdLv5QqSqQANSpGy4Z8T9rfLp34e0rMJ9fhrm39nGsw1BoQiDezhUlsgo3y6xUGX3f-lcVnqTsfxiVNU%5FFSxf792kUXUShNmrV-W6Tih0rFbmnBBIkdpfevsT-XQCfxA7Ii%5FqDZwHlLdm-ryqgMFCLenlM-Zx3157V57aDS4ZuFuGcne59Ybkp8N3Cl%5Fkw%5FsRM157Cztv8dKRghCZhYcp67AVyyYKIYdOnPwVUx&ord=259501151&ntv%5Fht=LyIMagA&prx%5Fr=http://11.https://www.eitfood.eu/news/gen-z-demand-radical-change-from-the-food-sector-to-tackle-access-to-healthy-and-affordable-food "undefined") is linked to mental health. On the work front, they are not shy to press employers for workloads and [work-life balance](https://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk?ntv%5Fat=4,29&ntv%5Fui=676574b8-4239-45e0-973e-c49a17ea424a&ntv%5Fa=rwkIATmBaAtV4SA&ntv%5Ffl=H8%5FNIX%5FfVs0Ik5QLWe2EYHNVaVl9Z%5FoPpSo7HNtthPuxnPMUinohHwEZVsC%5FKIvoC3marVAe04PLsb5gW1Ehsf%5Fl0qLRhx5oola1Ft7j8iztUR%5F1ouLTAKM7GsWJlPM4x5D1shUV16EICZOnRtjHLAVS-KgSHMsN2iji9oXe%5FRJiC9zIZGBiNjpuZnL4v9fW0LQhw1EhzjOOwZlpl-yQ-wYyhMv6iSK1p782y76bauM0ajCJ9oxeR2qFFkIVEdM6wCi23Mc5SP20AYfIodlcGPze9kXs3oY7PutOGTif9zK4KiJLRjN9NVvPP9Y1gvemAUExTbvXIgfHYNWlhX6kdvopTmdLv5QqSqQANSpGy4Z8T9rfLp34e0rMJ9fhrm39nGsw1BoQiDezhUlsgo3y6xUGX3f-lcVnqTsfxiVNU%5FFSxf792kUXUShNmrV-W6Tih0rFbmnBBIkdpfevsT-XQCfxA7Ii%5FqDZwHlLdm-ryqgMFCLenlM-Zx3157V57aDS4ZuFuGcne59Ybkp8N3Cl%5Fkw%5FsRM157Cztv8dKRghCZhYcp67AVyyYKIYdOnPwVUx&ord=259501151&ntv%5Fht=LyIMagA&prx%5Fr=https://www.talentlms.com/research/gen-z-workplace-statistics "undefined") that reduces stress, or to take mental health days to nurture wellbeing and pre-empt the onset of more serious mental health problems. Despite, or perhaps because, youth suffer disproportionately from mental health issues, they are [more likely to be open](https://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk?ntv%5Fat=4,29&ntv%5Fui=676574b8-4239-45e0-973e-c49a17ea424a&ntv%5Fa=rwkIATmBaAtV4SA&ntv%5Ffl=H8%5FNIX%5FfVs0Ik5QLWe2EYHNVaVl9Z%5FoPpSo7HNtthPuxnPMUinohHwEZVsC%5FKIvoC3marVAe04PLsb5gW1Ehsf%5Fl0qLRhx5oola1Ft7j8iztUR%5F1ouLTAKM7GsWJlPM4x5D1shUV16EICZOnRtjHLAVS-KgSHMsN2iji9oXe%5FRJiC9zIZGBiNjpuZnL4v9fW0LQhw1EhzjOOwZlpl-yQ-wYyhMv6iSK1p782y76bauM0ajCJ9oxeR2qFFkIVEdM6wCi23Mc5SP20AYfIodlcGPze9kXs3oY7PutOGTif9zK4KiJLRjN9NVvPP9Y1gvemAUExTbvXIgfHYNWlhX6kdvopTmdLv5QqSqQANSpGy4Z8T9rfLp34e0rMJ9fhrm39nGsw1BoQiDezhUlsgo3y6xUGX3f-lcVnqTsfxiVNU%5FFSxf792kUXUShNmrV-W6Tih0rFbmnBBIkdpfevsT-XQCfxA7Ii%5FqDZwHlLdm-ryqgMFCLenlM-Zx3157V57aDS4ZuFuGcne59Ybkp8N3Cl%5Fkw%5FsRM157Cztv8dKRghCZhYcp67AVyyYKIYdOnPwVUx&ord=259501151&ntv%5Fht=LyIMagA&prx%5Fr=https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/01/gen-z "undefined") and talk about them, as well as to actively seek help. Without the stigma that has historically circumscribed the private and public discourse around mental health, Generation Z are more active in [fortifying, protecting and restoring it](https://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk?ntv%5Fat=4,29&ntv%5Fui=676574b8-4239-45e0-973e-c49a17ea424a&ntv%5Fa=rwkIATmBaAtV4SA&ntv%5Ffl=H8%5FNIX%5FfVs0Ik5QLWe2EYHNVaVl9Z%5FoPpSo7HNtthPuxnPMUinohHwEZVsC%5FKIvoC3marVAe04PLsb5gW1Ehsf%5Fl0qLRhx5oola1Ft7j8iztUR%5F1ouLTAKM7GsWJlPM4x5D1shUV16EICZOnRtjHLAVS-KgSHMsN2iji9oXe%5FRJiC9zIZGBiNjpuZnL4v9fW0LQhw1EhzjOOwZlpl-yQ-wYyhMv6iSK1p782y76bauM0ajCJ9oxeR2qFFkIVEdM6wCi23Mc5SP20AYfIodlcGPze9kXs3oY7PutOGTif9zK4KiJLRjN9NVvPP9Y1gvemAUExTbvXIgfHYNWlhX6kdvopTmdLv5QqSqQANSpGy4Z8T9rfLp34e0rMJ9fhrm39nGsw1BoQiDezhUlsgo3y6xUGX3f-lcVnqTsfxiVNU%5FFSxf792kUXUShNmrV-W6Tih0rFbmnBBIkdpfevsT-XQCfxA7Ii%5FqDZwHlLdm-ryqgMFCLenlM-Zx3157V57aDS4ZuFuGcne59Ybkp8N3Cl%5Fkw%5FsRM157Cztv8dKRghCZhYcp67AVyyYKIYdOnPwVUx&ord=259501151&ntv%5Fht=LyIMagA&prx%5Fr=https://www.verywellmind.com/why-gen-z-is-more-open-to-talking-about-their-mental-health-5104730 "undefined"). And this shift in approach augurs well for how society confronts mental health issues in the future, especially as Generation Z accedes to positions of economic and political power. **_SOMPO: Years Ahead_** [](https://jadserve.postrelease.com/trk.gif?ntv%5Fat=59&ntv%5Fui=676574b8-4239-45e0-973e-c49a17ea424a&ntv%5Fa=rwkIATmBaAtV4SA&ntv%5Ffl=H8%5FNIX%5FfVs0Ik5QLWe2EYHNVaVl9Z%5FoPpSo7HNtthPuxnPMUinohHwEZVsC%5FKIvoC3marVAe04PLsb5gW1Ehsf%5Fl0qLRhx5oola1Ft7j8iztUR%5F1ouLTAKM7GsWJlPM4x5D1shUV16EICZOnRtjHLAVS-KgSHMsN2iji9oXe%5FRJiC9zIZGBiNjpuZnL4v9fW0LQhw1EhzjOOwZlpl-yQ-wYyhMv6iSK1p782y76bauM0ajCJ9oxeR2qFFkIVEdM6wCi23Mc5SP20AYfIodlcGPze9kXs3oY7PutOGTif9zK4KiJLRjN9NVvPP9Y1gvemAUExTbvXIgfHYNWlhX6kdvopTmdLv5QqSqQANSpGy4Z8T9rfLp34e0rMJ9fhrm39nGsw1BoQiDezhUlsgo3y6xUGX3f-lcVnqTsfxiVNU%5FFSxf792kUXUShNmrV-W6Tih0rFbmnBBIkdpfevsT-XQCfxA7Ii%5FqDZwHlLdm-ryqgMFCLenlM-Zx3157V57aDS4ZuFuGcne59Ybkp8N3Cl%5Fkw%5FsRM157Cztv8dKRghCZhYcp67AVyyYKIYdOnPwVUx&ord=-904040778&ntv%5Fht=LyIMagA&prx%5Fr=https://www.sompo-hd.com/en/company/brand/global%5Fbrand/) Can Generation Z Change How We Think About Wellbeing and Mental Health? ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/branded-content/sompo-holdings/can-generation-z-change-how-we-think-about-wellbeing-and-mental-health/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/branded-content/sompo-holdings/can-generation-z-change-how-we-think-about-wellbeing-and-mental-health/"},"headline":"Can Generation Z Change How We Think About Wellbeing and Mental Health?","datePublished":"2026-06-18T14:28:44.851Z","dateModified":"2026-06-03T16:20:51.946Z","description":"","url":"https://time.com/branded-content/sompo-holdings/can-generation-z-change-how-we-think-about-wellbeing-and-mental-health/","keywords":[],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[],"articleSection":"","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/branded-content/sompo-holdings/can-generation-z-change-how-we-think-about-wellbeing-and-mental-health/","name":"Can Generation Z Change How We Think About Wellbeing and Mental Health?"}}]}] ```