To think that millennials and gen z...

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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?

Psychiatric Care has come a looooooong way since you were born. Lucky you! Yes discussing electric shock treatment for post natal depression over coffee with your besties is a blast!

I think it depends on your social circle, my friends and I openly chat about our mental health, having been in therapy etc and we’re all in our late 40’s early 50’s. I don’t know what box we would fit in.

On the other hand, I think having a therapist has become a bit of a fashion accessory for some - like having a PT, and nanny and a reiki healer.

Generation X here with depression

No, cannot say its ever been taboo in my circle over the years

@Codexdivinchi well yes, psychiatric care has come a long way, however the same could be said for the treatment of alot of physical illnesses - just because we have advanced doesn't mean that the care is up to standard.

Yep

Gen x here. My friendship group and I are all pretty open about therapy/depression/ptsd/bpd/burn out so I don't agree with you.

Having said that, my boomer dad and gf are the type to find therapy shameful. That's purely anecdotal though, I have no idea what my aunts and uncles think about it.

[quote CarrotCakeCrumbs]@Codexdivinchi well yes, psychiatric care has come a long way, however the same could be said for the treatment of alot of physical illnesses - just because we have advanced doesn't mean that the care is up to standard.[/quote]
Where did I say it was up to standard? The social stigma for a woman accessing mental health pre 2000 would have left her ruined. Fragile, unhinged, not a full shilling, wired up wrong, broken biscuits. All of which my mother was called.

You really can not compare the two. The standards may not be exemplary but at least they are there. You really were took away by men in white coats before this.

I'm 45 and I don't know anyone of any age chatting blythely about their therapist, because everyone with mental health problems is on a ridiculously long waiting list for 6 large-group or work-your-way-by-yourself-through the-workbook sessions of CBT.

And there are fewer serious consequences about being open about mental illness these days. I failed the medical for the first job I was offered after I graduated because I'd self-harmed in the past and wasn't prepared to tell the psychiatric nurse treating me that I would definitely never do it again. So it went on my medical notes, and my GP wrote that I wasn't safe to work with children.

What @PicsInRed said. Less talking, more action.

Early Generation X here and growing up it was completely taboo.to.talk.about mental health or to.seek therapy. I think Gen X was the first.generation to.fully embrace therapy and to start talking about it and our children show that

Gen x here.

I really hope they can talk more openly about mental health issues and reduce the stigma.

I have anxiety (diagnosed), and probably depression too. I take two different antidepressants to manage it and be able to function. I’m still a shell of what I could be, and now have zero confidence to boot.

There are four people in the world who know, apart from my doctor. Because, unfortunately, other significant people in my life would be so judgmental and I don’t think I could cope.

I would love to be open and help break the stigma but I can’t. So I applaud those who do.

A lot of people just talk the talk. I’ve been in several situations where people are talking ‘openly’ about mental health but when I’ve mentioned I am bipolar they get quiet and uncomfortable.

Millennial here and yes I am very supportive with how much mental health gets talked about now. It has been taboo in older generations and I don't think it's a case of "everyone plays the anxiety card" I think it's more that it's now acceptable to discuss how our mental health therefore people are opening up and being honest.

Remember, everyone has mental health just as everyone has physical health. You can have moments of poor mental health (such as temporary stress, feel down or anxious) or long term mental illness such as clinical depression or an anxiety disorder. Just as you can have moments of poor physical health (Cold, flu, stomach bug) or long term physical illness (such as COPD, cancer, chronic pain)