Why Is Gen Z More Focused On Mental Health Than Older Generations?

There’s a lot of online chatter and opinions about Gen Z. Older generations say they don’t want to work. Studies claim they don’t care about marriage. The latest clickbait headline suggests they’ll never have houses. You or someone you know has probably accused them of wanting to be Instagram famous. It’s okay—there’s no judgment.

Misconceptions happen when there is a lack of dialogue, and that is exactly what Nicole Walters is trying to change through her show Tell Me More with Nicole Walters. On a recent episode, Walters sat down with her second oldest daughter, Kris Walters, 23, to learn more about Gen Z—the good, the bad, and a few surprising things you probably didn’t know.

Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012, is expected to make up more than 30 percent of the workforce by 2030. As a key part of our future, this makes their perspectives, motivations, and work habits incredibly important to understand. Here’s what Kris has to say about some of her generation’s struggles and how we can create a better world for them

What pressures does Gen Z face

Kris, who—along with her two sisters—was adopted by Walters in 2015, has a tremendous story of overcoming the odds. She has survived poverty, stage 4 cancer, and divorce. Kris has dealt with her own share of mental health issues, and it’s been a journey to show herself grace and to practice the tools (like journaling, going for walks, resting) to help herself get better.

Similar to Kris, Gen Z reports the highest rates of mental health issues compared to previous generations. From relationship problems to school drama to struggles to finding work to the fear of undocumented friends being deported, Kris says Gen Z is dealing with a lot as they come of age.

“It’s hard to hang out with my undocumented friend because of her anxiety of being grabbed and picked up by ICE. It is that serious out there,” Kris explains. “She has always had that anxiety, but with the rollout of the new administration, it’s been an increasing fear. To the point where it’s kind of debilitating for her,” she notes of her friend.

Harassment in the workplace

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Kris, who works in the financial sector, has dealt with her fair share of sexual harassment in the workplace. “The sexual harassment that I’ve experienced has been increasing in the last year and a half, to the point where I am getting harassed outside my building every day. It’s the same person,” she explains.

As far as her peers, Kris says there seems to be pressure to make the younger generation and specifically, young people of color feel uncomfortable in the workplace. The feeling seems to be deliberate. “It feels like they are trying to get us out of the workplace—from the person who has to take it on. But I do feel, in the attempt to give them grace, that it is cultural ignorance, and they don’t understand,” she adds.

Kris is not here for complacent allies at work, though. She believes that when you see wrongdoing and mistreatment in the workplace, you should call it out. “Understanding and complacency can only get you so far. If you don’t call out the behavior at some point, everyone is just going to keep experiencing it,” Kris says.

Gen Z cares about mental health more than any other generation

According to Kris, Gen Z is very community driven. It’s no surprise seeing that they grew up with social media. Through online chat groups and Instagram feeds, they created subcultures to connect and interact.

A lot of Kris and her friends’ conversations center on mental health. “Therapy is expensive. Not to trauma dump on your friends. But it’s nice to be able to vent to a person, express concerns, and give ways for them to support you,” Kris explains.

Gen Z also values validating emotions and making space for them—even if they are uncomfortable. “When your parents can’t show up for you, having friends and community that can is great,” Kris says.

What about a house, kids, and the white picket fence?

Right now, as a 23-year-old, Kris does not envision the “white picket fence” image for her life. She does not imagine she will want kids or a house someday. “Gardening seems cool. But I can’t even keep a cactus alive. I like apartment living, but my friends and I talk about getting a house together, but with this economy? Not right now,” Kris says.

Kris says that Gen Z is soft launching their version of “the American Dream,” which is apparent by their fluid definition of what a relationship is. “The desire for love is there, but the cons, most of the time, outweigh the pros,” she explains. “Being in a relationship brings on a whole new level of problems, when you could have just been single.”