Attitudes, treatments for mental health shift from baby boomers to Gen Z

People of all ages struggle with mental health, but those who make up Gen Z have a very different approach to their struggles than their baby boomer grandparents.

Talking about anxiety and stress has become more mainstream for young adults, those ages 15 to 21, a panel of mental health experts said during a webinar this week hosted by the Pinellas County chapter of NAMI or the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Denise Whitfield

Sharing stories and struggles is important, said Denise Whitfield, executive director of NAMI Pinellas County. “The underlaying message is that you are not alone, and especially in today’s society with the pandemic, it’s OK not to feel OK,” Whitfield said.

Perceptions about mental illness look different across the generations, with a stigma associated with it in the past, said self-described baby boomer Vicky Hummer, director of transformation at Metropolitan Ministries.

Talking about anxiety and depression and stress with kids is now part of the school experience, said Johnny Crowder, founder and CEO of Cope Notes, a digital mental health platform. “I’m 28 and that wasn’t really part of my school experience,” Crowder said. “I think while the things people are experiencing may be similar, what we’re seeing is a cultural shift toward acknowledging the most basic and widespread mental health concerns.”

Related: Tampa entrepreneur texts the way to mental health

The change in approach has occurred over the past 10 or 15 years, said Kent Roberts, a clinical social worker at Suncoast Center, a St. Petersburg-based health provider. “I’m only a little older than Johnny but I’ve enjoyed watching that change happen … going from ‘we don’t talk about this’ to ‘let’s talk about this,’ ” Roberts said.

Although mental health stigma has played a role in the past, it doesn’t have to play the same role in the present or the future, Whitfield said.

Roberts said there are three areas for change. Primary care facilities and schools are providing expanded services. Community and government organizations are proactively offering services, such as the addition of a mental health team within the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. Digital platforms like Cope Notes make services more accessible to more people.

Johnny Crowder

“We have improved access through text, mobile, telehealth, so we’ve broadened the ability to reach people who need it. And people are more willing to reach out and realize that mental health is integral to how we function, so it is more inclusive in community services,” Hummer said. “We also have more research about what works. We have individualized treatments and practices that are evidence-based … so the outcomes have improved.”

Prevention also will take on a bigger role, Crowder said.

“The days of waiting for someone to be formally diagnosed and request treatment are long gone,” Crowder said. “We live in a world where we are all well aware of the mental and emotional strain we are under, yet simultaneously we’re pretending we only have to worry about it after a crisis. I love that there are crisis centers and Cope Notes partners with them, but we’re trying to get there before the crisis.

“So I think in the future … we’ll support mental and emotional health education in public schools. I think that the future of mental health means getting there before kids develop addictions, before they attempt self-harm, and educating them so it becomes as culturally understood as other things.”

If you need help, or know someone who does, here are some resources.

NAMI National Crisis Text Line:

Crisis Text Line: Text NAMI to 741-741 to connect with a trained crisis counselor to receive free, 24/7 crisis support via text message.

Crisis/Suicide Hotline:

If you are feeling suicidal, having a psychiatric emergency, or know someone who is, please contact the local Crisis/Suicide Hotline at PEMHS at 727-791-3131 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)