The Mental Health Crisis: Generation Z

In recent years, the conversation around mental health has gained significant traction, with much attention directed toward Generation Z. As the first generation to grow up entirely in the digital age, or as Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation, likes to call it “The Great Rewiring”, Gen. Z faces unique challenges that contribute to an unprecedented mental health crisis.

            In his book The Anxious Generation, Haidt includes a plethora of research data, that proves that the mental health of Gen. Z (specifically more in girls) has been deeply harmed by technology advancements and the rise of social media. His data was collected from not only self-report surveys, but also medical information (intake and diagnosis codes) therefore making it reliable to use as support for causation.

            Jonathan Haidt shows how the mental health of Gen. Z drastically changed in the early 2010’s through multiple graphs. He also addresses and detests claims of other factors that researchers have claimed to have been the cause of this mental health crisis instead of technology and social media. The declining data of mental health of those born into Generation Z does not match up with factors such as political polarization, global financial crisis, global warming, an increase of school shootings, and even the Covid-19 pandemic as much as it correlates with the increase of smartphone and social media usage.

            If you wish to learn more about this mental health crisis amongst a developing generation of humans, I recommend the book The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. The pressures of social media can be overwhelming and seeking professional help could be beneficial to promote your mental health or that of your favorite Gen. Z person. Call 708-633-8000 to book an appointment with one of our professional counselors at Olive Branch Counseling Associates. Our therapists offer a variety of services that take place both in person at our office located at 6819—167^th St. in Tinley Park, IL 60477 or via telehealth. We are here to help!

Myleigh, undergrad intern, 2025

Olive Branch Counseling Associates

Haidt, J. (2024). The anxious generation: How the great rewiring of childhood is causing an

            epidemic of mental illness. Penguin Random House.