Heat Waves, the Ukraine War, and Isolation: Gen Z’s Perspectives on Mental Health

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Emphasis on all Many societies place on youth, it is a difficult time to be young. In May 2022, the McKinsey Health Institute (MHI) surveyed 6,000 Generation Z respondents in ten European countries to understand their views on mental health, particularly in relation to global and regional crises.
What the MHI found was consistent with what respondents in the The United States said In January 2022: Gen Z reported poorer mental health compared to older generations, including millennials. There are some external triggers at play: Half of Gen Z respondents report extreme stress from climate change, while 41 percent list problems related to the war in Ukraine. More than a quarter said that Covid-19 has caused them a lot of stress.






Gen Z respondents, however, seem to have a more skewed structure around the stigma surrounding mental illness.
In Europe, Gen Z seems less likely to stigmatize or discriminate against people with mental illness, despite self-stigmatization. Negative stereotypes surrounding mental illnesses, whether directed at themselves or others, can prevent people from discussing their mental-health conditions (for more on stigma, see the sidebar “Disclosure Stigma”).






The personal, professional and educational networks that serve Gen Z in Europe can benefit from a better understanding of the unique challenges facing this generation. To this end, in the exhibits below, we share what European Gen Z respondents cite as their main mental health concerns, as well as some ways to provide better support (for more on the method, see the sidebar “Method”).

In most countries surveyed, Gen Z respondents reported poorer and worse mental health than other generations.

One in five Gen Z respondents in Europe, more than any other generation and five times more likely than baby boomers, report poor or very poor mental health. in the US Gen Z Survey, one in four respondents are emotionally distressed. More female Gen Z respondents in Europe report lower mental health compared to their male counterparts.

Nearly one in four Gen Z respondents said their mental health had worsened in the past three years. This trend is higher for Gen Z than any other generation.

Physical health is the only dimension where Gen Z does not report the highest levels of poor or very poor health.

Unprecedented global and regional crises are contributing to Gen Z’s anxiety.

47 percent of Gen Z respondents reported high levels of stress due to global climate change, 41 percent due to the war in Ukraine, and 28 percent to COVID-19.

Anxiety levels vary by country:

  • Larger numbers of Turkish, Spanish and Italian Gen Z respondents reported more anxiety about global climate change than their European peers.
  • Turkey’s General Z respondents reported the highest level of stress due to the war in Ukraine. Additionally, across all ten countries, 55 percent of Gen Z respondents who self-identified as refugees or asylum seekers reported experiencing high levels of stress because of the war in Ukraine, compared to 40 percent of other respondents.
  • Italian Gen Z respondents reported the highest levels of stress due to Covid-19.

Gen Z respondents recognize someone with a mental-health problem

Among Gen Z respondents with a mental illness, 47 percent endorse feelings of self-isolation, fewer than millennials (52 percent) but more than Gen X (42 percent) and baby boomers (29 percent). Gen Z respondents attribute mental illness to poor parenting or character flaws.

However, these negative attitudes toward mental illness do not appear to result in negative attitudes toward people recovering from mental illness; One in three Gen Z respondents would be willing to continue a relationship with a friend who is recovering from mental illness. , and more than half say they live with someone in recovery.

Although Gen Z respondents report high levels of self-isolation and social isolation, this does not limit their willingness to discuss their mental health with others or acceptance of people with mental illness.

Gen Z respondents are most comfortable talking to a friend about their mental-health situation.

Only 37 percent of Gen Z respondents reported feeling comfortable talking to a family member about their mental health, compared to roughly 50 percent of other generations.

On average, 44 percent of Gen Z respondents say they feel comfortable talking to a doctor or therapist. About half say they feel comfortable talking to a friend about their mental-health situation.

Less than a third of all respondents say they feel comfortable talking about their mental-health situation with coworkers or supervisors. For Gen Z, the number is even lower. This suggests that employers may want to consider how young workers perceive acceptance at work.

Schools can facilitate conversations on mental health among Gen Z.

Between 70 and 89 percent of Genealogy student respondents reported that their schools provide behavioral-health resources, but there is room for improvement, as approximately 30 percent said they did not know whether or not the school provided the resources. What facilities are available in the school?

Gen Z respondents made more use of their school’s digital behavioral-health resources, such as telehealth and app-based resources. However, they say those benefits outweigh the benefits of online mental-health training and in-person services such as peer support networks, workshops on coping with behavioral health issues, and counseling services.

Like us It was mentioned earlierMany Gen Z survey respondents say their first step in managing behavioral-health challenges is to go to social media, follow therapists or download related apps to get advice from others.
Globally, schools—in addition to employers, health care professionals, and parents—may want to explore how technology can provide faster access to reliable and meaningful support for Gen Z’s mental health.

Employers have a role in Gen Z’s mental health.

as if WorkDirect support
The mental-health needs of employees are very important when hiring a Gen Z employer. As Gen Z is expected to make up a third of the workforce by 2030;
It is important for organizations to consider these changing expectations and the increasing level of providing mental-health support. This will continue to be a growing factor in future recruitment and retention.

By highlighting valuable tools like digital self-help or peer mentors, leaders can demonstrate that Gen Z understands the importance of their mental health.


Gen Z mental health should be a priority

In all ten countries, the study found that those entering adulthood are facing stressful personal and global events with fear but hope. Gen Z represents the next generation of educators, executives, advocates and parents. It will one day fall to them to carve the way for the world they want to live in. But no one is alone: ​​all stakeholders can benefit from understanding what respondents have to say about their lives and then think of concrete ways to provide immediate help. . By highlighting valuable tools like digital self-help or peer mentors, leaders can demonstrate that Gen Z understands the importance of their mental health. We can all serve in the challenges ahead.

Ultimately, regardless of age, mental health supports make a meaningful difference to individuals and institutions. The McKinsey Health Institute shares the belief that promotion, prevention and early intervention to support mental health are key to adding years to life and years.


MHI is the sustainable, not-for-profit global arm of McKinsey. MHI strives to catalyze action across continents, sectors and communities to achieve material improvements in health, enabling people to live their best possible lives. MHI sees supporting young people’s mental health as essential to adding life years and years of life.

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