Mental Health is something that everyone experiences at some point in their lives. The term mental health refers to the ability of a person to cope up well with life's provocations. In today's age, mental health has become a crucial concern for the modern generation or how we call it, 'Gen z'. Teens today are growing up in a digital age where they can easily connect with others across the world at any time of the day or the night. This digital connectivity makes it easier for teens to feel isolated and depressed than ever before. To understand the causes of mental health issues of this age group, we must look at the various social and economic factors that affect mental health. Body shaming, bullying, harassment, generational trauma, high expectations from school and family etc have become a big burden on today's generation. Mental health issues among young people don't receive nearly as much attention or care as they should. New studies have shown that the stresses of social media use can trigger depression in individuals and their overuse can exacerbate depression in some users. Members of Gen Z are growing up in an age of increased stress and anxiety. Most of the issues are known to be caused due to financial challenges, peer pressure in educational institutions, bullying from friends and family, generational trauma, mental physical and verbal abuse etc. and many more that it is impossible to list each of them. It's really disappointing how a large number of Gen Z think that they might be better off dead. Having past traumatic childhood events is one of the greatest issues of mental illness because it takes years to completely heal those scars. Wherefore, we must work to create a society that is more accepting and supportive which can include providing access to mental health resources, creating safe spaces to talk and express their feelings, and educating them on mental health topics. And a tip for the adults and basically everyone: Go to therapy to stop generational trauma before becoming a parent so that your children don’t have to. By understanding the growing mental health crisis and the challenges Gen Z is facing, we can work together to create a better future for the generations to come. 

Reeti Maharjan

Campion School, Lagankhel