Mental health has become one of the defining health conversations across generations, but each age group approaches it differently based on life experience, cultural attitudes and the world they grew up in. Here’s a look at mental health by generation:
Gen Z (approximate ages 14-29)
There is no shortage of surveys examining the mental health of what has been coined the “anxious generation”:
· 42% struggle with depression
· 61% report they have been medically diagnosed with anxiety, while 37% suspect they have an undiagnosed mental health condition
· Mental health is the second most cited societal concern by Gen Z, second only to cost of living
· 40% of Gen Zs say they feel stressed or anxious all or most of the time
· Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and eating disorders are also increasingly common in younger people
While they may feel more anxious or depressed, this generation is more open to discussing and prioritizing mental health. (87% say they feel comfortable discussing it!) One survey found that two out of every five regularly attend therapy, and 67% feel that therapy is a very important mental health support tool. In a look at how mental health ranks among their health needs, 56% ranked mental health as the top priority, compared to 28% who ranked physical health first.
Some of the key contributors to their mental health include:
· Worrying about their future, including finances (48% say longer-term financial future is most significant contributor to their stress)
· Growing up during the pandemic, navigating political tensions and violence happening throughout the country may also be factors
· Social media usage negatively affecting their mental health
But, how social media impacts mental health is one area that is inconsistent across various surveys of young people. Gen Z are more likely than older generations to spend more time on social media daily: one survey found that 60% spend at least four hours a day on social media, and 23% spend seven or more.
With all that time spent on social media, one report finds that 34% feel like it has positive mental health benefits, while 31% feel like it has negative mental health benefits. But another report says 60% feel social media has a negative impact.
What’s interesting is that a study from the UK and Australia found that two-thirds of older generations felt that increased use of social media was a key reason for mental health issues in young people, compared to 51% of the young people surveyed.
That same study found that Gen Z was much more likely to say that social media and smartphones gave them better self-expression (60%) and helped with community building (46%).
Looking ahead: Keep talking about mental health, but don’t let TikTok be your therapist. Social media can help people feel seen, but it shouldn’t replace real support. Gen Z can benefit from setting screen-time boundaries, building in-person connections and reaching out to a counselor or doctor when stress, anxiety or depression starts affecting daily life.
Millennials (approximate ages 30-45)
Millennials are the largest living adult generation in the U.S., sitting at about 73 million people and surpassing the Baby Boomers in 2020. But being the biggest doesn’t always mean the best:
· Millennials strive for a higher level of perfectionism especially in the workplace, which may contribute to higher rates of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts
· Major depression is top health condition affecting Millennials
· They experienced higher rates of co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder
· Suicide is fourth leading cause of death among ages 35-44, and 6.1% had suicidal thoughts in past year, more than double that of the 50+ group
They sometimes get a bad rap, but Millennials came of age, including entering the workforce, during major recessions. One contributing factor to mental health that seems to stand out among Millennials is stress or worry or finances, whether that be saving, managing debt, or buying a home. More Millennials reported experiencing anxiety related to financial concerns (67%, compared to 62% and 58% Gen X and Gen Z). And more reported their social life had been impacted because of money concerns (64% compared to 58% and 48% of Gen X and Gen Z). The good news is that 78% report they are open to talking about money stress.
In general, Millennials are more likely to talk about mental health compared to their parents or grandparents and for the most part grew up in a time when things like anxiety, depression, eating disorders and suicide were talked about openly. Whereas their parents and grandparents grew up in an era when discussions about mental health only happened in whispers, this generation has a higher level of mental health literacy.
But, in one survey just around 40% said mental health was “very important” to them, compared to roughly 60% among other age groups. They also ranked the importance of mental and physical health ranked almost equally at 30% and 29%, respectively. And 34% said they had unmet mental health treatment needs, compared to 14% of those over 50.
Research shows that approximately 50% of all lifetime mental illnesses begin by age 14, and 75% emerge by age 24. With that reality, Gen Z may be better equipped, as they came in to their adolescence at a time when mental health is seen on nearly equal footing as physical health.
Looking ahead: Protecting mental health may start with letting go of the pressure to have everything figured out. Between careers, parenting, and finances, Millennials often carry stress like it’s part of the dress code. Prioritizing sleep, regular checkups, therapy when needed and honest conversations can help protect mental health. Just like physical health, mental health deserves regular attention, not just crisis management
Gen X (approximate ages 46-61)
Sometimes called the “middle child” because they are in between Baby Boomer and Millennials, many Gen Xers are now managing the responsibility of caring for both their children and aging parents, which could come with some mental health impacts:
· Report highest levels of burnout across generations, with 42% feeling chronically overwhelmed at work
· Moderate depression had the most significant impact on ages 45-65
· Alcohol deaths were highest among ages 45-64
· Alcohol-related hospitalizations highest among ages 50-64 (followed by ages 35-49)
· Among females, the suicide rate was highest for those ages 45-64
Even with all the pressure they’re under, Gen X has built a reputation for resilience. Raised to be independent and adaptable, they’ve spent much of their lives figuring things out on their own, skills that may make them especially capable of managing stress, even when they’re carrying more of it than anyone else.
While 20% of Gen X said they would describe the current status of their mental health as fair or poor (the second worst among age groups), they ranked attending therapy or counseling as least important for their mental health, among other things like getting enough sleep or physical activity.
Gen X came of age during a time when mental health was often misunderstood and heavily stigmatized. As institutions closed and attitudes toward treatment slowly shifted, many people still viewed mental healthcare as something reserved only for severe cases, making it difficult to talk openly about stress, anxiety or depression. Today, that mindset is changing, even if it’s at a slower pace than needed.
Looking ahead: Being independent is a strength, but doing everything alone is not a requirement. Gen X can improve mental health by asking for help earlier, making time for preventive care and treating burnout, depression or alcohol use concerns as health issues worth addressing, not personal failures.
Baby Boomers (approximate ages 62-80)
Many grew up when mental health was not openly discussed, leading to a tendency to treat it with stigma or avoid treatment. Because of that, there’s likely a significant underdiagnosis of mental health illnesses in this age group.
· Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health condition, with up to 17% over 65 with a diagnosis
· Only one-third with a diagnosed anxiety disorder get treated for it
· People in this age group generally have lower rates of depression, but rates can be much higher in people in nursing homes or those living alone
· Common risk factors for Baby Boomers’ mental health include serious illnesses, financial worries because of fixed incomes, mobility challenges and their loved ones’ health.
As you’d expect, this age group ranked physical health as much more important than mental health (46% compared to 10%). But, 85% feel that their mental health is somewhat or very important to them. They ranked attending therapy or counseling as least important for their mental health among other things like getting enough sleep or staying busy.
One study of people ages 60 to 79 found that the greatest barrier to seeking help was the belief that a decline in mental health was a normal part of aging. But hopefully representing a shift in this generation, another report found that 63% agree therapy is at least a somewhat important tool to support mental health.
Looking ahead: Mental health is health, full stop. Baby Boomers can benefit from talking openly with their doctor about anxiety, depression, sleep issues, grief or loneliness. These symptoms are common, but they are not just “part of getting older,” and support can make a real difference.
Silent Generation (Ages 80+)
Having grown up during the Great Depression and during and post World War II, then becoming adults during the Cold War era, this generation has seen a lot.
· Depression is widely recognized as the most common health condition for this age group
· Dementia-related mood and behavioral issues are critical mental health concerns, with about 25% over 80 with some form of dementia
· People ages 85 and older had the highest suicide rate among all age groups, largely driven by males
· 1 in 6 experience elder abuse, which can lead to chronic anxiety and depression
Older adults often don’t seek help for depression. In this age group, depression often shows up as physical symptoms like pain, fatigue and cognitive confusion. Many may think their symptoms are a normal part of getting older, or they may feel stigma or shame about feeling depressed.
The Silent Generation is resilient, and one report shows 53% describe their mental health as excellent (the highest among all age groups), plus they tie Gen Z for how important their mental health is to them. This generation overwhelmingly ranks socializing as the most important factor in their mental health (even more than Gen Z!), which makes sense as persistent disconnection and loneliness can lead to serious conditions like depression, anxiety and cognitive decline.
Looking ahead: Connection is powerful medicine. Staying socially engaged, keeping regular medical appointments and telling a trusted loved one or provider about changes in mood, memory, energy or sleep can help older adults get support sooner. Depression, anxiety and loneliness deserve care at every age.
The Bottom Line
Younger generations tend to be more open about anxiety, depression and therapy, and although mental health is widely valued across all age groups, priorities, coping strategies and beliefs about treatment can vary significantly from Gen Z to the Silent Generation.
Generations can help explain shared experiences, but they aren’t exact science, and the lines between them are often blurrier than they seem. So keep in mind that people are shaped by far more than the year they were born.