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Original poster

To think that millennials and gen z...

38 replies

Whitepriv · 30/07/2020 20:24

Are very comfortable talking about mental health (and that’s a good thing)!

Millennial here and half of my friends have openly talked about therapy or their mental health. When I’ve talked to my older (gen x/boomer) friends it always seems like it’s somewhat taboo.

Do you think that’s the case?

OP posts:
Original poster
Whitepriv · 30/07/2020 20:26

Also, a quote from when I googled this;

Boomers: I heard she went to looks around nervously whispers ᵀʰᵉʳᵃᵖʸ

Millennials/Gen Z: LMAOOOO YALL GUESS WHAT MY THERAPIST TOLD ME TODAY

OP posts:
user1493413286 · 30/07/2020 20:26

Yep I agree unfortunately though everyone thinks talking about is enough rather than putting pressure on the government to meet the demand for the services to help

Pelleas · 30/07/2020 20:29

I'm wary of generalisations drawn along the lines of Gen X, Gen Z etc. but I agree it can only be a good thing if mental health becomes less taboo. If we could say 'I've been really depressed' with the same ease er say 'I've had the flu' that would be great.

SheepandCow · 30/07/2020 20:36

They might have hushed it up a bit more, but there was better MH care and easier access to it in the past. Now people might write online about their MH but accessing medical help or support is much harder.

Mamadoll · 30/07/2020 20:39

I'm really glad that younger people now are able to be so open and willing to access help when they need it. My nephew opened up to me that he was struggling with anxiety and depression and was able to point him access help via his GP. I wish I was able to be so honest with everyone about my own MH as I have suffered in silence for 30 years with depression and it has ruined my life. The help just wasn't there when I was younger, when it could have really made an impact and the people around me of my own age and older just don't get it, though you wouldn't believe it with all their MH reposts etc across social media!

I can definately see MH becoming less of a taboo amongst the younger age groups, thankfully, and I hope it continues that way and services get better. I really feel for anyone who has been trapped by the stigma, and I guess is why I was keen not to let my nephew suffer any more than he needs to.

TheLegendOfZelda · 30/07/2020 20:41

Prozac Nation

strawberrymilkshakemonkey · 30/07/2020 20:44

i think it's great on the one hand (i've suffered with depression and other issues) and its lovely we can be open about it.
on the other hand, i think the anxiety card gets pulled too much now. everyone i meet seems to have had mental health issues, or they have'OCD' or 'anxiety' simplybecase theyve felt a bit low or a bit anxious or like lining up their tins in the cupboard. it's like the masks thing. everyone can claim 'oh i've got anxiety' and suddenly tey're exempt frm wearing a mask. so, good and bad!

Tappering · 30/07/2020 20:58

What an incredibly lazy and sweeping generalisation to cast.

TheFormerPorpentinaScamander · 30/07/2020 21:02

@strawberrymilkshakemonkey

i think it's great on the one hand (i've suffered with depression and other issues) and its lovely we can be open about it. on the other hand, i think the anxiety card gets pulled too much now. everyone i meet seems to have had mental health issues, or they have'OCD' or 'anxiety' simplybecase theyve felt a bit low or a bit anxious or like lining up their tins in the cupboard. it's like the masks thing. everyone can claim 'oh i've got anxiety' and suddenly tey're exempt frm wearing a mask. so, good and bad!
I completely agree with this. Most people I know claim to have depression, or anxiety or ocd. But suggest they see a dr for help and its "no I'm not crazy"
1Morewineplease · 30/07/2020 21:06

@strawberrymilkshakemonkey

i think it's great on the one hand (i've suffered with depression and other issues) and its lovely we can be open about it. on the other hand, i think the anxiety card gets pulled too much now. everyone i meet seems to have had mental health issues, or they have'OCD' or 'anxiety' simplybecase theyve felt a bit low or a bit anxious or like lining up their tins in the cupboard. it's like the masks thing. everyone can claim 'oh i've got anxiety' and suddenly tey're exempt frm wearing a mask. so, good and bad!
I’m with you on this.

So many posts on MN start with / include “ I have anxiety/mental health issues.” Let alone in real life.

Schools are actively promoting ‘resilience.’

I’m not sure that too many adults are role-modelling this.

Guess I’ll get flamed .

Ethelfleda · 30/07/2020 21:06

Agree with strawberrymilkshake
It can go too far the other way. People label themselves as having MH issues when really they’re just experiencing a normal human emotion.

I see it banded about all too often as an excuse for people to do whatever the fuck they want sometimes, too.

Disclaimer: I’ve actually suffered from two mental breakdowns in my life so I am not unsympathetic to actual mental health issues. I am also a millennial - one of the older ones but a millennial nonetheless.

PicsInRed · 30/07/2020 21:06

Talking about how supportive we are. ✅

Actually being supportive. ❌

Ethelfleda · 30/07/2020 21:07

Also what picsinred said! It’s far too often for the likes

Dazzedandconfused · 30/07/2020 21:15

I agree with the PP.
Its fantastic that we can talk openly about our mental health but there is now a bit of a tendency to catastrophise normal emotions in to mental health issues and the labels (particualrly 'anxiety' and "depression') get banded about far too freely. This causes problems for people with genuine conditions accessing services.

Pixxie7 · 30/07/2020 21:16

Totally agree with pp in that anxiety card is used too much. Anxiety is to some extent a normal response to certain situations and to an extent protective. Its determining the difference between the two.
The trouble is to some extent it’s become like the old backache, how to you prove it?
IMO it being used as an excuse so people don’t have to work.

Tappering · 30/07/2020 21:17

Agree with @strawberrymilkshakemonkey and @Ethelfleda.

Openness and acceptance around MH issues is a good thing, but pathologising normal human emotions - and children growing up without learning resilience - is harmful.

speakout · 30/07/2020 21:25

This millenium. gen z stuff is all crap.

I know many older people who have used their time on this planet wisely, and have come to a great understanding of what it means to be human, growing is strength and humanity as they age.
We all develop together, no matter which decade we were born.

Young people are often full of optimism, but I think many will come to realise they have been drinking the Kool Aid, such is the power of communication and social media.
It is fashionable to be "free thinking", but only if you think like the others it seems.

BitOfFun · 30/07/2020 21:26

It's all very well talking about it, but the funding has to be there for actual treatment, and I just don't see it.

ElsieBeard · 30/07/2020 21:29

@Whitepriv

Also, a quote from when I googled this;

Boomers: I heard she went to looks around nervously whispers ᵀʰᵉʳᵃᵖʸ

Millennials/Gen Z: LMAOOOO YALL GUESS WHAT MY THERAPIST TOLD ME TODAY

What do generation x do?
CarrotCakeCrumbs · 30/07/2020 21:31

I think stigma for some mental health conditions is easing, it is relatively easy now to talk about anxiety and depression for instance, and get alot of compassion for that. However, when you begin to mention schizo-affectice disorder, borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, CPTSD etc. Then there is still a very long way to go.

I think more people are talking about it now because it is becoming such a huge problem - these illnesses have always existed of course but it was all hushed up, people who were suffering very severely tended to be put in hospitals and it was a case of out of sight out of mind. Now there is often nowhere to go when your at your lowest and it is scary, and it needs to be fixed. (I don't think the 'care' that those people got in the hospitals was great either by the way).

I think the rise of social media has brought cases of suicide and poor mental health to our attention far more than it would have had news coverage in the past. I do think that some people use anxiety and depression as an excuse, or use the word depressed when they've had just 1 bad day, but by and large I do believe that the majority of adults will at some point in their lives suffer from some mental illness, just as the majority of adults will suffer from a physical illness.

I am 25 and even 10 years ago alot of people still believed that self harm was attention seeking, I am glad that those attitudes are changing.

Atalune · 30/07/2020 21:31

Gen x here.

I’m very happy with people being able to discuss their feelings openly and seeking support.

I’m not so ok with everything being something. And though I totally rebuke the snowflake stuff, o do think there is a lot of fetishing mental health issues that are not issues!

GrumpyHoonMain · 30/07/2020 21:36

In a lot of cases the Milennials and Gen Z’s I know who talk loudly and proudly about therapy, have it paid for by their Gen-X / Boomer parents or grandparents. They couldn’t afford it otherwise, or wouldn’t prioritize it over the latest new tech / gadgets etc. (I am a Milennial by the way, but the only one in my circle who doesn’t rely on their parents to take a shite).

Divebar · 30/07/2020 21:39

It is fashionable to be "free thinking", but only if you think like the others it seems

Yeah they’re open about mental health but closed about other aspects such as “ freedom of speech”. De-platforming has replaced debate. ( They’re also apparently navel gazing self obsessives who think selfies are a replacement for having a personality..... enough sweeping generalisations for you?)

P999 · 30/07/2020 21:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CarrotCakeCrumbs · 30/07/2020 21:42

@GrumpyHoonMain they are very lucky to be able to have access to private therapists then, I think most people would have to rely on the NHS service/their health insurance for therapy which is just diabolical for alot of people. The NHS have huge waiting lists, and often can only offer 6-8 sessions which is rarely enough to even scratch the surface of what are usually deep rooted problems.