WHY IS GEN Z SO STRESSED OUT?

50% of young adults ages 18-24 reported symptoms of anxiety and depression in 2023 😲 This might surprise you, but won't surprise any student minister or teacher. Why is mental health in decline? The newest research suggests that creating a "bubble of safety" around kids to prevent risk or discomfort is the biggest contributor to the youth mental health crisis. Yes, Covid isolation and social media have made it worse. But they’re not the cause. An explanation… Never letting kids take risks makes them terrified of risks. Asking them to dwell on feelings can cause them to fixate & ruminate on feelings. Jumping in to mediate every conflict at school makes them unable to deal with conflicts themselves. Calling common difficulties "trauma" convinces them they're traumatized. Labeling annoying people "toxic" erodes vital relationships. Never letting them venture out on their own makes them dependent on “adults” to solve their problems - even when they ARE adults. These trends in parenting, education, and entertainment decrease students’ ability to cope with normal levels of stress. When society is obsessed with kids' comfort and safety, they become obsessed with their own comfort and safety. However, their generation is actually growing up in BY FAR the safest and most prosperous time in human history. But adults tell them the world is dangerous, and social media tells them the world is ending. Plus, things aren't getting worse, they're getting better by every measure. But that news doesn't get clicks or attention. We created a generation that feels broken even when things are okay. To make things worse, we've medicalized ordinary emotional discomfort. Students (and their parents and teachers) use therapeutic language to refer to normal challenges. Students aren't stressed out; they're anxious. They're not feeling blue; they're depressed. People who don't meet the actual criteria still claim the label. Talk to those who work with teens and they'll tell you many WANT a label. And some adults want them to have it. Then, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Want a deeper dive? Jonathan Haidt's upcoming book, The Anxious Generation, and Abigail Shrier's book, Bad Therapy, share keen insights on parenting and education. You May not agree with every conclusion, but they get to the heart of the problem. I highly recommend them. All that to say - I believe in Gen Z! They’re smart, resourceful, and creative. And they're a BLAST. That's why I’m giving my life to serve them. But society MUST help kids and teens develop INDEPENDENCE and RESILIENCY if they will have productive and fulfilled adulthoods. It’s out of fashion to tell a kid who falls down, “You’ll be fine. Suck it up. Dust yourself off. Get back out there.” But most of the time, that's what they need. Don't just tell them they're strong, expect them to be. Parents, please let them venture out and take risks. It's more risky NOT to. Help them serve others more and think about themselves less. They’ll be better for it!