Gen Z Has a Loneliness Problem

Gen Z might feel less stigma talking about their mental health concerns, but the younger generation is still facing a heavy mental health crisis and reports far higher rates of loneliness, a new study from RedBox Rx found.

Altogether, three out of four Americans said they struggled with mental health in 2023, but the numbers were far more troubling for Gen Z and Millennials.

In the Gen Z cohort, 41 percent said they struggled with their mental health, alongside 36 percent of Millennials. That was compared to 21 percent of adults aged 45 and over.

"Mental health remains a struggle for many Americans," Daniel Fick, RedBox Rx's chief medical officer, said in a statement. "The findings from this study demonstrate that more resources and support are needed to help individuals manage their mental health, especially younger adults."

Loneliness in the early 20s and late teens could be a significant contributing factor, as 53 percent of Gen Zs reported loneliness and 52 percent said they had feelings of failure over achieving their life goals.

But the generation's timing for growing up may be a larger piece of the puzzle than any unrealized goals, therapists say.

Gen Z and Millennials experienced many collective societal traumas during critical developmental periods of their youth, including 9/11 and the 2008 financial crisis, Thriveworks counselor Alexandra Cromer said. They've also been on the front lines of the school shooting epidemic, which has seen nearly 400 school shootings since Columbine in 1999, according to The Washington Post.

"Experiencing trauma can cause people to cope in different ways, and some can self-isolate which can cause feelings of loneliness," Cromer told Newsweek.

And while Gen Z is known to be one of the generations with the least amount of stigma around seeking mental health, the study found only 37 percent of those with worsening mental health have sought professional care.

According to licensed clinical social worker Lana Lipe, social media and screen time might also be a huge part of Gen Z's ongoing loneliness epidemic. The rise of passive consumption and social comparison is quickly replacing genuine interaction, which can lead to an uptick in loneliness.

"As a therapist, I'm seeing a rise in physical and social isolation, sleep issues, unrealistic expectations and perfectionism among these age groups," Lipe told Newsweek.

Studies have consistently shown that higher rates of social media use are associated with poor mental health, and Gen Z is the most digitally connected generation yet. They grew up with false social media realities thrown at them and may struggle to disconnect from the constant doom scrolling.

"Many Gen Z and Millennials do cite social media and the Internet both as a way to foster connection, but also as something that can cause disconnectedness," Cromer said. "While it's easy to reach out to someone on technology, it's equally as easy to see your peers attending an event you weren't invited to or doing things and having experiences that you've never had."

For many Gen Z-ers, the future doesn't seem to offer a compelling escape. Homeownership remains out of reach for most due to staggering home prices and mortgage rates, and the younger generations are also battling economic instability and a nationwide $1.77 trillion student debt.

Amid all of this economic instability, Gen Z and Millennials are still known to shift the stigma around mental health, but not everyone is there yet. They also often still have difficulties in finding affordable care with their health insurance.

The average cost of therapy ranged from $100 to $200 in a 2019 report by SimplePractice, and many therapists also have long waitlists you have to work through before actually finding treatment.

They're also starting their careers in a remote work age, forgoing in-person friendships with coworkers and losing out on social connections that could help them build their careers. Dating is largely digital, and all of these shifts have led to a generation that many feel lacks the social skills of their elders.

"When individuals are in social settings, or have the opportunity to forge relationships, their ability to connect is limited, resulting in increased loneliness," psychotherapist Nicholas Hardy, who founded the Untherapeutic podcast, told Newsweek.