Every September, conversations about mental health become louder. But for Gen Z, the conversation goes far beyond one month. In recent years, mental health has become increasingly present in everyday life, discussed more openly and frequently than ever by this generation.
But when did this change begin? Perhaps it was a combination of factors: social media, therapy, education, campaigns, COVID-19 and changing generational attitudes.
But if we want to really understand why mental health has become part of our conversations today, we need to look at where some of these conversations began, including the story behind the month itself.
where the conversation started
According to the World Health Organization, more than 720,000 people die by suicide every year, making it a serious public health issue. Although suicide and mental health struggles are not new problems, the way they are discussed has changed. For many years that was a sensitive topic that people shy away from. Today, however, younger generations are bringing these issues into the open, sharing their experiences and challenging stigmas.
September has become strongly connected to suicide prevention in many countries, with campaigns and events throughout the month. But the story behind it is not tied to a single event.
In September 1994, a bright 17-year-old boy named Mike Emme from Westminster, Colorado, tragically died by suicide. Mike was an incredibly skilled teenager who loved working on cars. His most famous project was a yellow Ford Mustang. The night before Mike’s funeral, his mother suggested using yellow to honor him.
They bought yards of yellow ribbon, cut them into small pieces, and pinned them to 500 cards. Each card carried a simple message: “Please don’t do it. Reach out for help.” The cards were quickly distributed throughout the community, helping inspire the creation of the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program later that year.
Almost a decade later, September 10 became World Suicide Prevention Day. The date was established in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention in partnership with the World Health Organization to raise awareness about suicide prevention.
These developments helped shape the conversations that younger generations grew up with. The internet, social media and easier access to information have changed the way young people communicate, while discussions about the subject became more common. For Gen Z, growing up alongside this shift may have made conversations about mental health feel more familiar and less taboo.
talking more doesn’t mean suffering less
Gen Z may be more comfortable talking about mental health, but that does not mean it is less affected by it. Suicide remains a major cause of death among young people, while anxiety, burnout, comparison, insecurity and concerns about the future are still part of many young people’s lives. With the internet and social media often intensifying these experiences, the generation that talks more openly about mental health may also be facing new pressures of its own.
“When we say that this is the generation that talks the most about mental health, it does not necessarily mean that it is the generation that takes the most care of itself,” says Kelly Garcia, a brazilian cognitive behavioral therapist specializing in human behavior.
According to Kelly, Gen Z has greater access to information through technology, lectures, universities and workplaces. However, access to information does not always translate into engagement with mental health or a willingness to seek help.
She also points to another pressure faced by teens: the need for acceptance. “I know I have traumas, I know something in me is disconnected, but I need to protect my image,” she explains. For her, the fear of failure and concern about how they are perceived can become a barrier.
how awareness is reshaping gen z’s relationship with mental health
Kelly also noticed a change in her own practice. According to her, young people are now arriving at therapy with more knowledge about mental health, which she sees as positive, but believes it can also create another problem: when information becomes a source of worry rather than help. “The more I know, the more I worry, and the more I worry, the more I stop living,” she says.
On the other hand, this increased access to information has also made it possible to question old patterns and challenge stigmas. For example, old generations believed that hard work was the key to a good life, but this began to be challenged as the new generation entered the job market. For the therapist, this greater awareness of mental health had helped young people recognize the importance of taking care of themselves.
All this shift does not mean that young people are free from pressure. Instead, it shows how the conversation around mental health can influence the way they understand their limits, priorities and expectations for the future. Overall, Gen Z changed the course of what was considered ideal, opening up a wider range of opportunities.
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The article above was edited by Júlia Batista.
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