Older generations often downplay mental health due to ingrained cultural stoicism, strong stigma from their upbringing where "toughing it out" was valued, misinformation (like viewing depression as normal aging), and prioritizing physical health, creating a gap in understanding and seeking care compared to younger people who grew up with more mental health awareness. This mindset, shaped by past eras, makes discussing feelings difficult, perceiving them as weakness or a personal failure rather than a medical issue, leading to reluctance to seek therapy or services.
Older adults are often perceived as having less comfort in discussing mental health as compared to younger generations due to stigma, and may be more likely to prioritize physical over mental health concerns.
Stigma happens from a lack of understanding of mental illness, through ignorance and misinformation. It can also happen because some people have negative attitudes or beliefs (prejudice) towards mental illness. This can lead to discrimination.
Gen Zers feel the strain, and they want to talk about it
They've also had to navigate the pressures of political tension, mass shootings and climate change. The result? They face more mental-health challenges in youth than those before them. And it's not just anxiety and depression.
The stigma surrounding mental health and aging is a prevalent issue that needs to be addressed. Many older adults face negative societal attitudes, which often leads to silence and isolation. Older adults with mental health issues are often stigmatized due to misconceptions and stereotypes.
Research by the Walton Family Foundation states that 42% of Gen Zers struggle with depression and feelings of hopelessness, which is nearly twice the rate of people over the age of 25, at 23%.
However, our culture tends to glorify youth, so older adults are more often the victims of age-based discrimination and negativity. Ageism can take root early in life. Even as children, we begin to pick up on the idea that aging is an unsatisfying process and older adults are incapable of taking care of themselves.
Whilst boomers and millennials may use the 😂 emoji, this has long since been deemed 'uncool' (or 'cheugy') by Gen Z. Instead, this has been replaced by the skull (💀) or the crying emoji (😭), dramatising the idea of 'dying with laughter'.
Gen X is the 'most stressed' generation but studies show they're also the toughest. It's official: People are more stressed out than ever. Technology, a wildly unpredictable economy, political division, and changing family dynamics have us all on edge, and it's doing a number on our mental health.
In one of His talks (Matthew 5:4 – 14), He said, “Those who feel sad are blessed, because they will find comfort.” (paraphrased). This message of comfort and hope is for everyone struggling with mental health issues, showing that they're not alone. Jesus also talked about how faith and prayer can help in hard times.
183 GPs said mental health problems were being over-diagnosed a lot, 259 said over-diagnosed a little, 197 said neither over-diagnosed nor under-diagnosed, 49 said under-diagnosed a little and 32 said under-diagnosed a lot.
The 5 C's of Mental Health provide a framework for well-being, often cited as Competence, Confidence, Connection, Character, and Caring, focusing on feeling capable, believing in oneself, nurturing relationships, living by values, and showing empathy. While some variations exist, like adding Compassion, Coping, or Community, the core idea is building resilience through personal growth and strong relationships, helping individuals manage challenges and thrive.
Fear, denial, thriftiness, distrust, embarrassment and discomfort are common reasons that cause older individuals to dig their heels in when it's time for an annual physical or to check out a new or worsening problem.
Ten common warning signs of a mental health crisis include extreme mood swings, withdrawal from friends/activities, significant sleep/appetite changes, increased substance use, difficulty concentrating, persistent hopelessness, major hygiene/appearance decline, excessive anxiety or anger, illogical thinking/hallucinations, and thoughts of self-harm or suicide, all indicating a person can't cope with daily life.
Teas for stress and anxiety relief
What is the 54321 method? The 54321 (or 5-4-3-2-1) method is a grounding exercise designed to manage acute stress and reduce anxiety. It involves identifying 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste.
What to avoid saying to someone with anxiety?
“Can't lie” “Can't lie” falls under the same umbrella as slang terms like NGL (not gonna lie) and TBH (to be honest). The 🆑 emoji is perfect to use when you're trying to keep things unfiltered and brutally honest.
Resembles plewds, stylized sweat droplets used in comics and animation to show characters working hard or feeling stressed. May be used to represent various types of liquids, including sexual fluids. May also be used to represent various liquid-based slang expressions (e.g., drip, “exceptional style, swagger").
The upside-down face emoji 🙃 is basically code for “this is terrible” or FML. It's used when things aren't going well or the user is having a terrible day. This modern usage is an update to the millennial sense. For the older generation, this emoji often indicated sarcasm or even silliness.
But the general consensus seems to be that you are officially “old” somewhere in your mid-70s. “For a 64 year old, the estimated perceived onset of old age was 74.7 years,” according to the study.
Age discrimination usually doesn't start at 40
For many professional women, it is around age 47 or 48 when they start to notice changes in their work environment. Coworkers and supervisors may become more hostile to them in the workplace or less receptive to their ideas.
8 Signs of Age Discrimination in the Workplace