Normalizing Mental Health Conversation – The GenZ Gift That Keeps On Giving

For the longest time, mental health conversations were considered taboo topics in India. Thanks to films like Dear Zindagi, Tamasha, and Chhichhore – and of course to the youth of this nation –Millennials and Zillennials, these behind-closed-door discussions are becoming mainstream. Be it kids at school or adults in the corporate world, everyone is under more stress. And stress brings with it a whole whoopie can of other mental health conditions. So, let’s dive into the ABCs of Gen Z and millennial’s mental health game… because adulting is more than about acing interviews and paying bills; it also involves effective mental health care. 

Breaking the Silence: A Guide to Gen Z Mental Health Activities, Adulting, and Taking Control 

Millennials and Gen Z have broken the stigma surrounding these mental health conditions: 

• Anxiety – How to Navigate the Mind Maze 

maA panic attack right before a life-changing presentation, that habit of overthinking texts and sweating the little stuff – we’ve all experienced this. This is anxiety in a nutshell, and most Gen-Z and millennial adults live with it as if it were a cohabitant in their homes. But the good news is that these discussions are now in the open as Gen Z and millennials are unafraid to talk about their anxiety honestly and without any judgement. They’ve taught us the valuable lesson that sometimes, in life, it is okay to not be okay. 

• Bipolar Disorder: Learning to Embrace the Highs and Lows 

Bipolar disorder was such a stigma, that it was deemed a seriously grave mental disorder that resulted in patients being institutionalized. But today, this stigma has been dismantled due to the millennial and Gen-Z mental health awareness campaign that has made the world realize that bipolar disorder, in its simplest form, can be likened to sudden mood swings, which are a part of the human experience. According to them, if a rainbow can have a spectrum of vibrant colours, why should mental health be classified in black and white alone?   

• Depression: Shedding Light On a Dark Condition 

Depression does not discriminate. You could be rich or poor, male, female, transgender, cisgender, gender neutral, binary – however you identify. It can spring up upon you out of nowhere. Millennials and Gen-Z are raising their hands and speaking about this dark mental health condition openly. They have made the world realize that sometimes getting out of bed can feel like hiking a mountain, and that it is not that uncommon to experience this sensation. In doing so, they are lifting the veil on depression, and proving that there’s strength in showing vulnerability. 

• Eating Disorders: Redefining Beauty Standards 

Let’s face it, we’re a broken, superficial society. We see people as beautiful, average, and ugly based on their colour and body type. But Gen Z and millennials are not buying into this narrative of narrow beauty standards. They’re embracing the discussions surrounding eating disorders while celebrating the diverse body types. In doing so, they are fostering a self-love culture, making the world realize that beauty comes in various forms, shapes, and sizes, and being beautiful is not about how you look in the mirror but how you feel on the inside.  

• OCD: Embracing the Quirks 

How often have you heard people say that they have OCD? Well, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is no punchline to claim. If you were coping with it, you’d realize that it is not just a quirky condition. For many millennials and Gen Z adults, OCD is a real struggle that makes them feel less than and incredibly self-conscious. Wanting things a certain way or compulsively acting in a specific manner are behaviours that just crack the surface of a deep, in-built condition that impacts one’s quality of life. But at least, we are talking about OCD more seriously, which is worth something.  

• PTSD: Rewriting Trauma Stories 

You may think they’re too young to experience it, but Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is very real for people who’ve experienced terrifying events at any stage of their lives. Children who experience abuse, neglect, and/or trauma often live with PTSD and don’t realize it well until they reach adulthood. More and more millennials and Gen Z adults are breaking their silence on their trauma and rewriting their stories with courage and resilience. They’ve taught the world that it is okay to get help, to heal, and to forge a path not bound by their past. 

• Schizophrenia: Demystifying the Mind 

The world may look at Schizophrenia as a taboo, but not Gen Z and millennials. They reckon that that our mind is more complex than we realize. Gen Z and millennial mental health awareness programs largely focus on demystifying the complexities of the human mind, while embracing people navigating this tough, incredibly harsh mental health condition. These mature young adults are standing up against the stigma associated with Schizophrenia and helping the world understand that one’s mental health conditions do not define their worth. 

Livin’ The Millennial and Gen Z Life 

Sometimes, life for millennials and millennials, feels like a rollercoaster ride on which they are stuck in a never-ending loop. While the world may criticize them, they’ve flipped the narrative on mental health on its head. They’re acknowledging their mental health struggles and paving the way for newer generations to be unafraid to seek help. If this is not adulting – we don’t know what is! 

Insuring Mental Health – Is It Really A Thing? 

Since mental health conversations are now a part of everyone’s living rooms, why should insurers hide in the alley? Under IRDAI regulations, you can get health insurance plans covering mental health treatments. Just read the policy terms to know the exact scope of coverage. So, go ahead, do the #Adulting thing and do right by your mental health.