There has always been stigma around how older generations address mental health. Much of this stems from a lack of awareness, limited access to professional help, and the way people from previous generations were conditioned to think about emotional sensitivity and mental well-being. Perhaps this is what Gen Z is changing, and it seems to make older generations uncomfortable.
For many years, mental health and struggles related to emotional expression were looked down upon by society as something to be ashamed of. Conversations around these topics were often hushed and ignored and today, Gen Z is often called “too sensitive” for taking addressing these issues. This is exactly the discussion India is currently having.
What Stirred This Discussion?
India has, yet again, found itself grappling with a new conversation, this time about mental health and how Gen Z approaches it. It began on an episode of Two Much With Kajol and Twinkle, a talk show hosted by the two Bollywood actresses, where they invite fellow film personalities to play games and share insights into their lives through engaging conversations.
In a recent episode featuring Ananya Pandey and Farah Khan, two Bollywood figures from different generations, Twinkle Khanna teasingly remarked, “Gen Z needs Google Maps to walk down their own street.” This prompted Gen Z actor Ananya Pandey to respond by highlighting that Gen Z is the first generation to validate their emotions and “talk about their feelings.”
This exchange quickly escalated into a broader question that sparked nationwide reflection: Is Gen Z too sensitive, or are older generations simply uncomfortable addressing mental health issues?
According to Arielle Kanitz, a certified clinician and Director of FHE Health, “With generations such as the Boomers and the Silent Generation, there’s a real stigma around mental health. They come from a period when we just didn’t have these types of conversations.”
Kanitz further added, “If you were getting mental health treatment, it was because you were considered ‘crazy’ and were being medicated. There was no in-between. You weren’t treated on an outpatient basis.” According to her, Gen Z is the “most vocal about mental health struggles” and prioritises embracing these conversations to dismantle stigma.
Read More: New Study Finds Gen Z To Be The Saddest Generation
Gen Z And Their Relationship With Mental Health
Gen Z, born between 1996 and 2010, holds a markedly different and more assertive perspective on mental health. As digital natives, Gen Z is exposed to a wide range of global conversations around emotional well-being and psychological challenges.
A 2025 BetterHelp survey highlights that 56 per cent of Gen Z report experiencing moderate anxiety, while 19 per cent reported severe anxiety globally. Further, a report by Psychiatrist.com found that around 42 per cent of Gen Z struggle with mental health conditions such as depression, PTSD, and ADHD.
A survey by Deloitte India also revealed that mental health ranks fourth among the top five concerns of Gen Z in India. These findings suggest that Gen Z is indeed more vocal about mental well-being, a trait far less common among older generations.
How Older Generations Treat The Stigma
According to a National Institutes of Health survey titled Perceptions of Overall Mental Health and Barriers to Mental Health Treatment Among US Older Adults, nearly 28.5 per cent of respondents aged 50 to 80 reported reluctance to seek professional mental health support in the future, despite 18.6 per cent stating that their mental health had worsened over the past 20 years.
This highlights the deep-rooted hesitation older generations have when it comes to acknowledging emotional struggles and seeking help. While Gen Z has grown up in an era where mental health is openly discussed, older generations were raised with the belief that emotional distress was synonymous with being abnormal or unstable.
Such societal beliefs have prevented many from addressing their struggles, often leading them to perceive younger generations as “too sensitive” or dismiss them as participants in fleeting internet trends.
What’s The Conclusion?
Psychologist Manasvi Azad, an expert in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, explains in an interview with The Indian Express, “For a long time, especially in a developing country like India, most people were focused on the lower levels of Maslow’s hierarchy: survival, safety, and stability. Emotional language wasn’t a priority. Gen Z is the first generation to grow up with greater access and exposure, and they’ve used social media to build the emotional vocabulary many of us never had.”
For decades, society has equated speaking about mental health with weakness or abnormality, making it harder for individuals to seek help. This silence only deepens emotional distress and creates cycles that are difficult to escape.
Adding to this, Azad notes, “One of the biggest barriers to therapy is the belief that expressing emotions makes you fragile. Clinically, we see the opposite. Suppressing emotions leads to frustration, burnout, and even physical symptoms. In CBT, change begins with awareness. You can only regulate what you can name.”
What may appear as oversensitivity could simply be a generation choosing courage over silence. As society evolves, perhaps it is time our perspectives evolve too, creating safer, more compassionate spaces for everyone who needs support.
Sources: The Indian Express, National Institutes of Health, Times of India
Find the blogger: @shubhangichoudhary_29
This post is tagged under: Gen Z mental health India, mental health stigma in India, Gen Z vs older generations mental health, youth mental health awareness, mental health conversations India, therapy stigma India, emotional well-being Gen Z, social media and mental health India, psychological safety at workplace India, mental health and generational gap
Disclaimer: We do not hold any right, copyright over any of the images used; these have been taken from Google. In case of credits or removal, the owner may kindly email us.
Other Recommendations:
