The Gen Z mental health crisis is growing rapidly across the world. A quick scroll through LinkedIn, Instagram or TikTok shows how Gen Z constantly chases opportunities. They create, innovate, and redefine success every day. Employers and brands see them as the most creative and ambitious generation, one that shapes modern work culture and breaks the traditional nine-to-five routine.
Behind these achievements, however, lies a heavy emotional cost. Research from the Harvard Medical Journal shows that Gen Z reports twice as many cases of anxiety and depression as millennials did at the same age. A Guardian report adds that one in three people aged 18 to 24 now struggle with mental health issues such as anxiety or depression, compared to one in four in 2000.
Social media has magnified this crisis. Platforms overflow with success stories — “30 under 30” lists, start-up milestones, and motivational posts. This constant celebration of achievement fuels a toxic hustle culture that leaves no space for failure.
Young people rarely use the word ‘failure’ anymore. Every post seems to focus on winning faster and achieving more. But in reality, failure is part of growth. What’s not normal is believing that everyone else constantly succeeds and that we must too.
The Fear of Failure
Social media, once meant to connect and inspire, now drives competition and comparison. The pressure to perform leaves many young people exhausted and insecure. Despite looking confident online, many of them silently battle Gen Z stress and burnout.
In sports and entertainment, successful people rely on therapists to recover from defeat. But the digital world hides such struggles. When real life fails to match online perfection, young people often collapse under pressure.
Brands that target Gen Z often create unrealistic images — portraying young people as start-up founders, influencers, or gamers enjoying lavish lifestyles. They rarely show failure or struggle. This lack of balance damages mental health awareness among Gen Z and reinforces impossible expectations.
The World Health Organization warns that suicide rates among young adults continue to rise. In Pakistan, 8.9 suicides occur per 100,000 people, with the highest vulnerability between ages 15 and 29. These alarming numbers show how urgently we need to normalise failure and address Gen Z anxiety and depression.
Employers also play a role in this stress. Many expect Gen Z employees to bring both innovation and experience — a contradiction that sets unrealistic standards. True experience takes time and exposure to both success and failure. Without that, young professionals find it hard to handle rejection or workplace stress.
To reduce Gen Z anxiety and depression, organisations must promote resilience and mental well-being. They should build workplaces that encourage balance instead of nonstop achievement. Brands can also change their approach — replacing perfection with honesty and authenticity in their communication.
When companies and institutions champion empathy and mental health, they help young people accept that failure is a step forward, not a setback. Gen Z doesn’t need endless pressure to perform; they need support, patience, and understanding.
The future of work and mental wellness depends on how we teach this generation to fall, recover, and rise again.
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