So many of us see Gen Z as the generation that’s taking on mental health stigma. After all, these are the young people who broadcast their thoughts and feelings on social media for the whole world to see, starting conversations both online and IRL about therapy and mental health issues.
And yet, that apparent openness hasn’t directly translated into better mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic certainly had something to do with that, leading to increases in stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia among young people, research has found. The long-term effects are sobering, and bouncing back hasn’t been easy. While the National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that depression and suicidal behaviors among teens has declined since 2021, a CDC study from earlier this year detected a 60 percent increase in depression among teens.
Lilia, 17, was one of many Gen Z-ers who sought therapy due to the pandemic. “For me, COVID was really hard, and it took a long time for me to get out of that,” she told SheKnows as part of our Teen Council. “Therapy was basically the only reason I could.” While she’s since stopped seeing a therapist, she says many of her friends still do, and she continues to lean on other strategies to support her mental health, like spending time in nature and journaling.
Despite more teens suffering from mental health issues and reaching out for help, it’s still unclear how much the needle has moved, overall, on mental health stigma. A recent report from teletherapy platform BetterHelp found that 37% of the Gen Z say they think that those who seek counseling are “mentally weak” — not a majority, but still a higher number than you might expect.
The Gen Z teens on our Teen Council reported varying levels of stigma and openness around therapy. For Juliet, 17, it’s part of the culture of New York, where she’s grown up. “A lot of people I know not only consider therapy, but go to therapy,” she explained.”There’s no stigma around it.” While Juliet herself doesn’t see a therapist, she says all of her friends do. “I’m a big proponent of therapy. It’s great to talk about your feelings, get your emotions out there.”
Meanwhile Clive, 16, says therapy is seen differently in New Jersey, where he’s from. In his experience, “it’s not common at all,” he explains. Instead, Clive confides in his friends and family. “I surround myself with the kind of people that are comfortable listening to me in that capacity and talking about my problems,” he says. “I think that’s enough for me.”
Carson, 18, believes there’s still a stigma around therapy among men and boys. “It’s like you’re seen as weak, or ‘boys don’t cry,’” he says. But his experience, as someone who’s been in therapy, has shown him the opposite. “Reaching out for help if you need it is the best you can do, because you’ll feel happier,” he says. “You’ll feel like a better person. You’ll be a better person to everyone around you.”
The bottom line? While therapy is becoming more common among teens, some stigma still remains. As parents, that means paying attention to the signs that your teen may need therapy, and helping them find a therapist if it gets to that point, is all the more crucial to keep them healthy, happy, and well.