Table of Contents
February 06, 2024
Gen Z, Millennial, Boomer — what generation are you? Your answer may hold the key to your mental health. That’s because, while each generation has a unique way of taking on life, we all tend to face some common challenges along the way. So we asked an expert for mental health tips by generation.

Find yours (or your kids’) below.

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Boomers & the Silent/Post War Generation
Currently age 60+
Two key words for this generation: “Dignity and purpose,” says psychiatrist Carla Schnitzlein, DO, medical director of Natchaug Hospital, part of the Hartford HealthCare Behavioral Health Network.
Without them, we’re at risk for mental health struggles in our senior years.
Watch for:
- 
- Isolation
- Despair
- Neurological issues like dementia



What to do:
- 
- Stay active, physically and mentally.
- Engage in activities that give you a sense of fulfillment, like reading to your grandkids or volunteering in the community.


Gen X
Currently in 40s or 50s
“Many people at this age are part of the ‘Sandwich Generation,’ raising young kids while taking care of a parent or an older loved one,” says Dr. Schnitzlein. “Make sure you don’t lose the ability to set boundaries around activities that are important to you.”
Watch for:
- 
- Stress and caregiver burnout

What to do:
- 
- Ask family members for help so you can take a break from caregiving, and look into respite services in your community.
- Find a caregiver support group.


Millennials
Currently in 30s or early 40s
“A lot of folks struggle with occupational identity at this age, because now we’re expected to work a nine-to-five job for the next 20 or 30 years,” says Dr. Schnitzlein. “Parents, this is where stress can weigh heavy on you too, feeling like you need to do enough to set your kids up for success.”
Watch for:
What to do:
- 
- Find healthy ways to cope with stress, like exercise, journaling or meeting up with friends.
- Connect with a mental health professional for help identifying and changing negative thought patterns.


> Related: What to Do About Function Nervousness: A Therapist’s Leading 3 Guidelines
Gen Z (older)
Currently in 20s
“Young older people: You know who you are, but you are out in a hectic globe for the very first time, and issues can drop aside a very little bit,” claims Dr. Schnitzlein. “You’re also figuring out associations with mates and potential romantic associates.”
Look at for:
- 
- Melancholy and stress
- Harmful interactions
- Isolation



What to do:
- 
- Produce hobbies and social shops exactly where you obtain which means and truly feel supported. Check out yoga, indicator up for a painting course, or be a part of a operating group.
- If you notice symptoms of depression or stress, talk to your physician or a psychological health supplier.


> Related: The Science of Binge Viewing: Why We Do It and Should You Quit?
Gen Z (more youthful)
At the moment teens
“Once children strike adolescence, they’re hoping to figure out their identification,” says Dr. Schnitzlein. “Parents, this is a time when your baby is additional very likely to glimpse for their peer’s approval than yours. Be completely ready to deal with that in a way that doesn’t crack down the healthier romance you have recognized.”
View for:
- 
- Bullying, which includes on line
- Adverse influences from social media


What to do:
- 
- Talk about wholesome on line interactions, and observe your teen’s social media.
- Get assist suitable absent if your baby is affected by bullying. Get started with their faculty counselor and pediatrician.
- Find approaches to continue to keep the lines of communication open up whilst respecting your teen’s desire for independence. Remind them they can lean on you and other reliable grownups for aid.



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Gen Alpha
At present children and tweens
“This is a main time to select up on early struggles, and make positive your baby has a supportive natural environment wherever they can understand to be on their own,” says Dr. Schnitzlein.
View for:
- 
- Educational challenges like a understanding or speech disability
- Developmental worries like autism spectrum disorder


What to do:
- 
- If anything doesn’t fairly observe with exactly where your kid need to be, consult a pediatrician or baby psychological wellness supplier. The quicker any developmental or mastering problems are discovered, the improved.

Psychological well being suggestions for every single technology
Over the system of a life time, our psychological health and fitness issues may well improve, but one detail continues to be frequent: Help is out there.
If you’re struggling, reach out to your treatment staff for support — and clearly show all those more youthful generations what it is like to age with grace.
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