Generation Z—Gen Z, for short, aka individuals born from the mid-1990s to early 2010s— is now being dubbed the “Anxious Generation” because of their rising mental health crisis and how open they are to talking about it.
For older generations, talking about depression, anxiety, or basically anything mental health-related is taboo. It’s considered a sensitive topic that is only discussed behind closed doors or simply ignored altogether. Going to therapy was unthinkable. Some even consider these issues as signs of weakness.[1]
Well, Gen Z doesn’t think like that. They say the words out loud, even if their voices shake.
This generational shift toward emotional transparency is groundbreaking, but it’s not without risks. In this article, we’ll celebrate how Gen Z was able to make mental health awareness mainstream and also discuss the dangers that come with its normalization.
Gen Z’s Biggest Win: Mental Health Is Finally Part of the Conversation
Mental Health Is a Part of Daily Language Now
You’ve probably heard someone say, “Taking a break today for the sake of my sanity,” or “I need to set some personal boundaries.” These aren’t therapy session quotes anymore, they’re just how Gen Z talks.
They’ve become so open about this topic that they even do dance trends about it.
Emotional wellness has become part of their everyday language, and it extends to their worldview as well.
Take this TikTok from @jazzybaby99: she reflects on how fortunate Gen Z is to have easy access to information, and gently reminds us to be more understanding toward our parents—after all, they didn’t grow up with the same opportunities.
Words like “burnout,” “trauma response,” and “emotional labor” have become part of casual conversations as well. This linguistic shift is a huge win because it shows how far mental health awareness has gone.
Linguists have long argued that language shapes behavior.[2] This means that the more we openly talk about our needs, the more likely we’re to seek help and support when it matters most. And isn’t that such a comforting thought that we can live in a world where we’re not afraid to talk about how we are and what we feel?
Of course, casual language can lead to misuse—stay with me, we’ll talk about this one in a bit—but in this case, the benefits of openness still outweigh the risks. Silence never helped anyone heal.
Social Media as a Launchpad for Awareness
TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter are full of therapy content—some educational, some funny, some deeply personal. Hashtags like #TherapyTok and “mental health check-in” videos are gaining traction, especially among teens and early 20-somethings.
Creators use these platforms to talk about anxiety, depression, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), and more. No, these people aren’t medical professionals; they’re ordinary people sharing their stories in relatable ways.
Personally, my favorite is the ‘Pink Eminence,’ a persona by Instagram user Ronja Stanley (@longlivenewro). She offers non-religious blessings, quirky rituals, and weekly affirmations for simply surviving. Her best line is “…things happened and you were there,”—and sometimes, that’s more than enough.
Aesthetic infographics with soft colors and comforting fonts also help present information in digestible formats. Mental health is visual, accessible, and increasingly social.
Therapy Isn’t Taboo Anymore
Once treated as a last resort, therapy has now become a rite of passage for many Gen Zs. They’re more likely than any other generation to seek professional help early and openly. In a 2024 survey conducted by the Thriving Center of Psychology, results showed that 39% of Gen Z participants are planning to go to therapy.[3]
There’s also the rise of TikTok therapists explaining concepts like cognitive distortions or signs of high-functioning depression. One of them is Dr. Julie Smith, who amassed a following of 4 million on TikTok alone. She provides “life-changing insights from therapy” in a digestible format.
More importantly, many Gen Zers now say, “Everyone should go to therapy,” the same way we talk about going to the dentist. What a societal milestone.
“Therapy” in the form of reels and shorts is now as accessible as the latest viral post, and in many ways, that’s a good thing. Social media, especially through Gen Z, has helped normalize conversations around mental health and make support feel more within reach.
But that normalization comes with a cost.
The line between real therapeutic guidance and algorithm-driven content is blurring. Given how easy it is to simply binge-watch therapy-related content, users are at risk of relying on these rather than actual medical care.[4] This also opens another can of worms regarding issues like misinformation[5], oversimplification of psychological concepts, and self-diagnosis.[6]
What’s worse is that the “talk” about mental health is largely happening on social media, where content is often created for views and virality, ultimately trivializing the discussions surrounding mental health.
The Pitfalls: When Mental Health Awareness Becomes Too Casual
Over-Normalization Has Watered Down the Language
Given how comfortable GenZs have become with mental health matters, they’ve become accustomed to saying things like “I’m so depressed”, “I’m very tidy, that’s so OCD of me,” or “I feel so stressed, I want to kms.” (For the oldies reading this, kms is slang for kill myself).
These sensitive topics have become part of dark humor, pop culture, and mindless expressions, which can be dangerous. When real clinical terms become casual slang, we lose the ability to recognize genuine distress.
See this thread on X (formerly Twitter), for example, where a user confidently diagnosed K-pop Demon Hunters character Zoey with ADHD based solely on her behavior in the show.
Claims like this are problematic for several reasons:
- There’s no proof the user is a licensed psychologist qualified to make such diagnoses.
- Their understanding of ADHD might rely on stereotypes or surface-level research.
- Someone who relates to Zoey or shares her traits might take the post as confirmation that they have ADHD, rather than seeking proper evaluation from a professional.
This phenomenon can also result in the invalidation and misrepresentation of the struggles of actual diagnosed individuals who suffer from these conditions.[7] The words start to mean less, and the gravity behind how serious mental issues are loses weight.
That’s not to say humor can’t be therapeutic. It can, especially for people experiencing depression and anxiety.[8] But it’s not an overtly cautious statement to say that we’re treading on a fine line here.
What was once empowering language might now be creating noise that drowns out actual cries for help.
Censorship on Platforms Adds Stigma Instead of Reducing It
Ironically, the same platforms that helped normalize mental health are also making it harder to talk about. Earlier this year, Meta introduced policy changes in their content moderation. These changes have users concerned, as they fear the censorship that would arise with talking about sensitive matters such as reproductive and mental health.[9]
To avoid having their content taken down, creators often use euphemisms or coded language—like “unalive,” “s-word,” or “off myself.” Some even replace sensitive terms with emojis (e.g., the grape emoji for rape) or modify words using numbers and symbols, such as “sexual” becoming “s3xu@l” or “suicide” as “suicid3,” both in captions and closed captions.
This contradiction—encouraging openness while punishing honest language—sends the wrong message: that mental illness is still too “dangerous” to say out loud.
So, Where Do We Go From Here?
Let’s give credit where credit is due. For better or worse, Gen Z has successfully rebranded mental health awareness into something more visible, relatable, and culturally embedded than ever before. They broke down walls and forced the world to listen.
But, as Uncle Ben once said to Peter, with such power comes great responsibility.
We need to be more careful with the words we use and the tone we use them in. Humor and honesty are powerful, but they should be balanced with care.
Platforms must do better, too. Censorship policies should protect users, not silence them. Honest conversations shouldn’t be punished. Trigger warnings and content filters are better tools than total bans.
And finally, consumers need to sharpen their media literacy. Not every infographic is fact. Not every vulnerable post is trustworthy.
Critical thinking is just as important as compassion.
SOURCES:
[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3822658/
[3] https://thrivingcenterofpsych.com/blog/gen-z-millennial-therapy-statistics/
[4] https://www.cbc.ca/radio/spark/mental-health-tiktok-1.7242717
