The young hearts and minds of Georgia's Gen Z are battling unprecedented challenges as they face the economic and social turmoil of inflation, elections, and protests, all while keeping their mental health in the crosshairs. Wrestling with the common hurdles of education and career planning, they are under pressure like never before. In a statement obtained by WABE, Georgia Southern University student Niles Francis captures the essence of this struggle: "You’re trying to figure out where you are going to live … what career you’re going to have. It’s a lot to think about."
Spanning ages that see them from college graduations to the cusp of high school, Gen Zers are knee-deep in facing issues seasoned by a global pandemic and international conflicts. Despite a staggering "40% of high schoolers [nationally] say that they felt so sad and hopeless for at least two weeks that they were not able to do their typical activities," per Dr. M. Daniele Fallin of Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health. With bodies and minds in the throes of development, the importance of mental health care cannot be overstated for this demographic.
And it's evident the toll is significant—even Ernst & Young's 2023 Gen Z study points out a shocking two-thirds have reported experiencing a mental health problem within a mere two-year period. Young Georgians are thus prioritizing their mental well-being, learning to navigate a swiftly changing landscape that sharply deviates from the terrain their predecessors knew.
Amid all this, the double-edged sword of social media slices through their everyday life. Touted as both boon and bane, social media platforms serve a crucial role in both connection and despair. Dr. Fallin alludes to concerning health consequences for individuals engaging with social media for over three hours a day, particularly when exposed to content that warps self-image and value. In the grip of facing their virtual realities, DeKalb resident Priscilla Arroyo told WABE about the jarring transitions on her social feeds: "You’re scrolling on TikTok or Instagram and you see like really funny videos, and the next thing you see is a really sad video … it just hits you, and it’s really hard to take in."
