Is depression the new Gen Z trend?

You might have heard this from every student: "I feel so lonely, I feel numb, I want to be happy, I want to run away from my life.”

A few days ago, I went on to Quora to find out what questions the students had to ask. There were so many questions just as I mentioned above. Instead of asking doubts related to their studies, there were questions regarding their loneliness, their unhappiness, their anxiety, and their mental health.

It is easy for parents or teachers to say that kids nowadays are using the words anxiety, depression, and mental illness for getting sympathy from everybody.

In recent years, mental health issues have gained significant attention. The students now are well aware of their situations and conditions. They understand every aspect of their life. They are aware of the competition in the real world. Be it acing the academics, getting a good job, earning lots of money, making a big career, maintaining good relationships and having a happy and well-settled family. They know about their responsibilities and also how it has become so tough to manage all those things in this chaotic world.

The younger generation deserves thoughtful consideration, empathy, and a deeper understanding. While some may dismiss it as a mere trend or exaggeration, it is crucial to delve beyond surface-level observations and explore the complexities of this important issue.

Social Media and Trendsetters.

Social media and technology have a great impact on the minds of Gen Z. It has affected the young minds negatively in most cases. While it is said to be useful for making connections and interacting with different groups of people and exploring the world through your phones, it is distancing people from each other and the real world. It also exposes individuals to constant comparison and idealized lives of great influencers.

Those influencers are said to be trendsetters now. They are responsible for romanticizing every part of their lives and portraying themselves as the perfect individuals who know about everything and are good at it. This takes away the real essence of living from the minds of the students. They start comparing themselves with those people on social media. They try to be the best at everything. This leads to constant FOMO in their lives.

Meanwhile, the people owning those big tech giants (social media sites) control the access to technology for their children. They are well aware of the fact that technology can be harmful if not used properly. They have mentioned this in some of their speeches and interviews.

The young minds are being manipulated through the algorithms. These sites and apps are meant to keep us engaged for hours. This leads to the disconnection of individuals from the real world, their studies, friends and family. Everything is easily accessible on the internet. We are so used to getting high rise of dopamine in our brains and that too so easily. This results in less focus on the things that are difficult to do but are the most important for us.

Some youngsters even believe that social media is even more addictive than smoking or alcohol.

Being a part of Gen Z myself, I have tried some ways to control my mind and not be addicted to social media.

1. Limit your screen time: I know it’s hard to fight the urge of peeking into everybody’s life. But you need to keep reminding yourself that you have things to do that are even more important than this. Many apps can help you in setting timers and track your social media usage.
2. Prioritize your work: Make a list of everything that you need to do to succeed in your academics or your career. Schedule your day properly, plan things, spend your free time with your family and friends, and keep yourself busy. This will help you stay away from your phone.

But we need to understand that social media is not the only reason behind this Gen Z issue.

Academic pressure and high expectations.

Since they started their schooling, Gen Z has faced high competition in every field. They are always expected to top their exams, be very good at sports, dance, art, literally everything.

The education system is very complicated and cluttered. This affects the students very badly. They are under continuous pressure and even their parents have always forced them to choose the subjects that have more scope and competition against their will. The pressure to secure a promising future has a toll on mental health. Their parents have taught them to prioritize exams and careers over their well-being.

The societal Norms.

There are so many problematic things that have been normalized by society. Social norms are more difficult to change than laws.

Getting secondary education, going to high school, getting a degree, getting a job, that’s what a normal life looks like to society and the people.

Students many times are forced to go against their will and follow those norms and are not supported when they want to do something unique. As the world has progressed with emerging technologies, the opportunities have changed. There is a diversity in career options now and people can choose to do whatever they want to. Despite all these advantages, students are expected to keep following the patriarchy.

The Impact of Economic Uncertainty.

Entering adulthood during a period of economic instability has added to the challenges faced by Gen Z.

The rising cost of living, limited job prospects, and mounting student loan debts contribute to financial stress and anxiety about the future. These concerns undoubtedly contribute to the increasing prevalence of depression and other mental health issues.

Students are aware of their expenses and they don’t want to be a burden for their family. They try their best to manage their cost of living and sometimes they even go for a part-time job which leads to more stress.

Speak out your minds.

It’s high time that we still say that people are trying to seek attention and sympathy by talking about their mental health.

Students need support and affection. They need people to understand and listen to their problems.

Rather than dismissing mental health concerns as a passing trend, it’s important to encourage open conversations and promote mental health education.

Gen Z’s willingness to address mental health issues head-on is a positive step, and their efforts should be acknowledged and supported.

Depression is not a trend or fashion statement for Gen Z; it is a genuine struggle faced by individuals who deserve empathy, understanding, and support. Rather than sensationalizing the issue, let us focus on dismantling the stigma surrounding mental health, creating safe spaces for open dialogue, and ensuring accessible mental health resources for all. By doing so, we can collectively work towards a future where mental well-being is prioritized and individuals are empowered to lead fulfilling lives.

Hey, I would appreciate it if you give a clap and a follow if you think that my work is worth it.

Also, you can take a look at my previous article where I tried to define FOMO: https://medium.com/@srush20/the-unmanageable-fomo-and-its-prevention-f8ecd8754296

Thanks for coming this far.