Navigating the Gen Z Mental Health Landscape: The Power and Pitfalls of Online Influence, and the effectiveness of psychoeducation programs taught in schools

Written by Heartscape Psychology Intern, Charmaine Chia

As a Gen Z member, witnessing a growing awareness of mental health and a willingness to seek help is heartening. A recent article, "I Realize There Are More People That Help Me,"  by straits times, tells a powerful story of a Gen Z (11-26 years old), Ze Han (17 years old),, finding life-saving support through community mental health resources. This positive shift suggests a broader recognition of the importance of seeking assistance for mental health struggles.

However, the prevalence of social media in Gen Z's life has led to a concerning trend – self-diagnosis through online content. While seeking content online is easy and convenient, relying on media for self-diagnosis may hinder individuals from finding appropriate solutions to their challenges, potentially normalizing harmful behaviors.

As a 23-year-old Gen Z member, my YouTube feed is filled with mental health content. Despite finding value in some coping methods suggested by these content creators, I'm aware of my developmental stage and I have to evaluate these coping strategies carefully to see if it harms or it will benefit me. The University of Rochester Medical Center notes the prefrontal cortex's full development at age 25, raising concerns for younger Gen Z individuals lacking judgment to assess online advice properly.  

Gell and collegaues (2023), indicates that influencers often provide inaccurate mental health advice, yet many, myself included, find their experiences more relatable than school-based education. According to American Academy of Child and Adolescent psychiatry, adolescents tend to rely on amygdala for decision making. This suggests that because the media offers relatable content about their mental health struggles and provides advice that strongly resonates with them, creating a more emotional connection than the formal education provided by schools, individuals are more likely to be receptive to media content on mental health compared to the psychoeducation programs offered in schools.

While schools focus on evidence-based approaches, practicality and relatability might be barriers for students (Saxbe , 2023). Adolescents may prefer straightforward advice on managing emotions, anxiety, and common challenges, favoring simplicity over complex methods like mindfulness. For example, instead of encouraging adolescents to practice mindfulness when they are anxious and depressed doing their homework, a more straightforward advice could be take a break and do something that you like to do. 

Advocating for a nuanced approach, I suggest schools integrate social media literacy about mental health. Emphasizing that online advice isn't a substitute for therapy and encouraging critical thinking can help students evaluate influencer-driven guidance. For example, if this singer said that to deal with her panic attacks, she eats medicine like Xanas to deal with her panic attacks. When teens see things like this, we encourage teens to ask themselves “What is this treatment advice? What is the negative consequence of following this treatment advice?” Especially, in situations where they really idolize the celebrity, without teaching them such questioning techniques, they will blindly follow these treatment advice and cause harm to their mental well-being. 

Parents navigating teenagers' mental health should approach with sensitivity, validating emotions first. Acknowledging the underdeveloped prefrontal cortex, parents should prioritize understanding before problem-solving. Asking questions, expressing curiosity, and occasionally discussing mental health can create a supportive environment.

For those touched by this article, we welcome your thoughts at admin@heartscapepsychology.com. If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out – no one should face mental health challenges alone. Ze Han's story serves as a reminder that help is just a call away.

References

American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. (2017, September). Teen Brain: Behavior, Problem Solving, and Decision Making. https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/The-Teen-Brain-Behavior-Problem-Solving-and-Decision-Making-095.aspx

Gell , S., Engel , E., Heiss, R., & Karsay , K. (2023, November 15). Social Media influencers and adolescents’ health: A scoping review of the research field. Social Science & Medicine. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S027795362300744X 

Saxbe , D. (2023, November 21). This is not the way to help depressed teenagers. The Straits Times.https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/this-is-not-the-way-to-help-depressed-teenagers 

Understanding the teen brain . University of Rochester Medical Center. (n.d.). https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=3051#:~:text=The%20rational%20part%20of%20a,cortex%2C%20the%20brain%27s%20rational%20part