The Mental Health Crisis in Younger Employees

So, just imagine trying to focus at work while juggling student loan payments, rent that eats up most of your paycheck, and the never-ending stress of just getting by. It’s something that no one deserves to deal with, right? Well, now toss in the pressure of rising costs, fewer resources, and social media telling you that everyone else has it all figured out.

This is the mental health storm many Gen Z and millennial employees are caught in. Not, a lot of small businesses want Gen Z, same goes for large businesses, but it’s hard to retain this talent when you give them the exact same expectations as their Gen X and Boomer counterparts, right? The same could probably be said for Millennials too.

But in all seriousness, for employers, it’s not just about paychecks anymore. It’s about stepping up and creating workplaces that help employees stay balanced because when life outside the office feels overwhelming, work performance doesn’t stand a chance.

Why Gen Z and Millennials are Overwhelmed

Now, you need to remember that Millennials and Gen Z didn’t get handed the easiest deck. For starters, student debt feels like a life sentence for many. Housing costs are ridiculous (rent as well), healthcare isn’t as accessible as it should be, and the “just work harder” advice from older generations feels, frankly, out of touch (and it is).

Add in the constant stream of “everyone’s doing better than you” messaging on social media, and it’s no wonder these employees feel drained before they even start their workday. This level of stress doesn’t just stay at home; it sneaks into the workplace, affecting focus, collaboration, and overall productivity. So, in all seriousness, if businesses want their teams to thrive, they can’t ignore these external pressures anymore. It’s time to invest in mental health, not as a perk but as a basic part of workplace culture.

In the 2010s, businesses made the mistake of thinking that a foosball table and a fridge full of beer would make the younger generation happy, but no, no it doesn’t.

It's About Breaking the Mental Health Stigma at Work

The elephant in the room is still a stigma. Yes, even now, all of this still exists! So, asking for help can feel like admitting failure, and that mindset needs to go. Employers have to do a better job at changing this. But it’s not just workplaces making moves, though. Actually, a lot of research labs are digging deep to understand how to improve mental health treatment.

For example, some labs are exploring the effects of substances like phenibut FAA for sale, which is strictly for research purposes (and not for personal use). But even with this, it’s a small but important reminder that mental health solutions are being worked on from all angles. Sure, it’s still taking time, but more solutions are on the horizon.

What are the Real Ways Employers Can Step Up?

So, what’s one of the biggest things employers can do? Well, give their people a little breathing room. For example, why not offer flexible work policies, such as remote options, hybrid setups, or even just a say in scheduling, can go a long way. The idea is to help employees manage their lives without forcing them to sacrifice productivity (or their sanity). 

But the same can be said for mental health support, such as ensuring that this is covered with employee health insurance, or even just providing one for them. Now, of course empathy is going to be needed too, these people aren’t superhumans (well, no one is).