Business Insider took a look at the mental-health state of millennials (defined by the Pew Research Center as the cohort turning ages 23 to 38 in 2019). The forecast for millennials’ mental health in 2020 doesn’t look pretty — depression and “deaths of despair” are both on the rise among the generation, linked to issues such as loneliness and money stress.
Millennials also feel that their jobs have an outsize role in their overall mental health. Because of longer work hours and stagnant wages, millennials suffer from higher rates of burnout than other generations. Many of them have even quit their jobs for mental-health reasons.
While some millennials can’t afford to get help, they’re more likely to go to therapy than previous generations, destigmatizing the concept in the process.
Here are 12 ways mental illness has plagued the millennial generation.
- Millennials are experiencing a “health shock” largely fueled by a decline in mental health.
- Depression is on the rise among millennials.
- “Deaths of despair” are also on the rise.
- Suicide attempts have especially increased among black youths.
- It’s partly linked to money stress.
- Money stress isn’t just contributing to millennials’ mental health — it also means not everyone can afford to seek treatment.
- Millennials are also lonely.
- And they’re dealing with burnout in and out of the workplace.
- Many millennials dealing with mental-health problems at work say their office does not provide adequate support.
- Employees who work outside a traditional 9-to-5 are particularly vulnerable to depression, as are women, LGBTQ people, and racial minorities.
- Globally, workers say discrimination because of a mental illness is more prevalent than other forms of workplace bias.
- Nearly half of millennials have left a job for mental-health reasons.
For all their mental-health issues, there’s a bright side — millennials, known as “the therapy generation,” are helping to destigmatize therapy.
Excerpted from “Depressed: The State of Millennials’ Mental Health Entering the 2020s” in Business Insider. Read the full article for details.
Source: Business Insider | Depressed: The State of Millennials’ Mental Health Entering the 2020s, https://www.businessinsider.com/millennials-mental-health-burnout-lonely-depressed-money-stress#if-youre-struggling-with-depression-get-help-14 | Copyright © 2020 Insider Inc
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or has had thoughts of harming themselves or taking their own life, get help.
Stress and Crisis Resources
For immediate assistance, the following resources are available 24/7 unless otherwise noted:
- Dial 911 or go to your nearest emergency room or urgent care
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