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Gen Z Mental Health Statistics: Anxiety, Burnout & the Wellness Response (2026)

September 22, 2026
Gen Z Mental Health Statistics: Anxiety, Burnout & the Wellness Response (2026)
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01.
Gen Z Mental Health Statistics: 2026
02.
Gen Z Natural/Non-Clinical Wellness Adoption
03.
Gen Z and Workplace Burnout
04.
References
05.
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Research compiled by Othership | Last updated: August 2026

Mental health is a growing concern for adults at all stages of life, but among Gen Z adults (ages 18–24), it is increasingly becoming a prominent aspect of wellness and quality of life. The effects of economic instability, rising inflation and costs, and workplace conflicts are all taking a toll on the mental health of Gen Z adults. As a result, many are turning to natural and nonclinical wellness habits, such as breathwork and meditation, to help balance out the effects of various stressors. This guide offers statistical insights into the mental health of Gen Z adults, including overall health concerns, wellness adoption rates, and the effect of workplace burnout. All data was compiled in August 2026 from publicly-available sources such as the APA, the CDC, the McKinsey Health Institute, and the Deloitte Gen Z survey.

Gen Z Mental Health Statistics: 2026

Studies have shown that mental health issues are on the rise across age groups, but data consistently shows that Gen Z adults are among the most likely to suffer from and report mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and burnout. Statistics show that around 55% of Gen Z adults experience mental health symptoms, while 48% report feeling burned out. These numbers are similar or slightly elevated in comparison to the prevalence of reported mental health conditions among older Millennials, with a larger gap seen between Gen Z and Gen X adults.

Gen Z Anxiety Prevalence

Metric Percentage
Young adults (18–25) with past-year anxiety, mood, or substance disorder receiving adequate treatment globally 13.9%
Gen Z (18–24) reporting high/persistent anxiety symptoms 55%
U.S. high schoolers reporting poor mental health most/all of past month (2023) 29%
Adolescents (12–19) screening positive for depression 19.2%

Sources: Table 11

Gen Z Burnout Rates

Metric Percentage
Gen Z workers reporting feeling burned out 48%
Gen Z reporting burnout symptoms 72%
Gen Z citing job as a source of stress/anxiety 52%
Gen Z who needed time off for stress/anxiety but didn't take it 61%
Gen Z reporting digital fatigue/overload 60%

Sources: Table 22

Mental Health Statistics: Gen Z vs. Millennials vs. Gen X

Metric Gen Z Millennials Gen X
Feeling stressed/anxious most or all of the time 40% 34% Not Reported
Rating own mental health "excellent" 23% Not Isolated 34%+
Self-reported depression rate ~45% ~36% ~19%
At least one burnout symptom 72% 77% 62%
Job as key factor in stress/anxiety 36% 33% Not Reported

Sources: Table 33

Gen Z Natural/Non-Clinical Wellness Adoption

As mental health concerns continue to rise in the priorities of Gen Z adults, many are turning to various natural and nonclinical wellness activities to relieve stress and alleviate mental health symptoms. Nearly 50% of adults 18–25 report seeking out mental health treatment recently, and over 30% plan to invest in wellness activities over the coming years. Among wellness activities, Gen Z adults tend to prefer activities like exercise, yoga, meditation, sauna, cold plunge, and contrast therapy, which are available at wellness support providers like Othership.

Gen Z Wellness Adoption Rates

Metric Percentage
Young adults (18–25) with any mental illness who did not receive treatment 57.5%
Young adults (18–25) with any mental illness who received treatment 49.1%
Gen Z Americans currently in therapy ~42%
Gen Z share of U.S. therapy-seeking population 31.7%
Young adults (18–25) with serious mental illness (SMI), past year 14.1%
Gen Z share of adults vs. share of wellness spending 36% of adults, 41% of wellness spending
Gen Z/Millennials prioritizing wellness more than last year 30%
U.S. Gen Z rating fitness a very high priority 56%

Sources: Table 44

Gen Z Social Wellness Spending Statistics

Metric Percentage
Adults 18–24 with a gym membership 35.5%
Gen Zers planning to spend more on fitness in 2026 30%
18–35-year-olds planning to attend more live events/experiences in 2026 79%
Total 2026 U.S. fitness spending projection (all generations) $60 billion

Sources: Table 55

Most Popular Gen Z Wellness Activities

Activity Data
Exercise/Fitness 35.5%+
Yoga >20%
Meditation ~20%
Sauna $954 million in spending; +32.8% attendance growth (2024–2025)
Cold Plunge $354.6 million market size (projected $500 million by 2028)
Contrast Therapy 26%–43% interest among Gen Z

Sources: Table 66

Gen Z and Workplace Burnout

Workplace burnout is a major source of stress that leads to mental health reporting among Gen Z adults, as well as one of the major drivers behind the search for anxiety-relief methods like contrast therapy, breathwork, and meditation. Various studies indicate that between 51% and 74% of Gen Z adults report workplace burnout. Common sources of burnout include workload, financial insecurity, work-life imbalance, and exhaustion resulting from overwork. In all, estimates suggest that the American workforce, of which Gen Z is a growing part, will spend around $300 billion a year as a result of burnout-related issues.

Percentage of Those Reporting Workplace Burnout: Gen Z vs. Millennials vs. Gen X vs. Baby Boomers

Source Gen Z Millennials Gen X Baby Boomers
Seramount (2025) 72% 77% 62% 38%
Eagle Hill Consulting (2025) 66% 58% 53% 37%
APA Work in America Survey (2025) 71% 74% 59% 48%
Canadian Business Survey (2026) 51% 55% 32% 29%
Aflac WorkForces Report (2025) 74% – – –

Sources: Table 77

Gen Z Reported Causes of Workplace Burnout

Reported Cause of Burnout Percentage Reporting
Overwhelming Workload 48%
Working Too Many Hours 40%
Difficulty Balancing Work and Personal Life 37%
Lack of Reward or Recognition 32%
Cost of Living/Financial Pressure 38%
Housing Affordability 69%
Job as a Source of Stress/Anxiety 52%
Financial Insecurity 48%
Feeling Exhausted All or Most of the Time 36%
Depersonalization 35%
Burnout Impairing Performance 42%
Heavy Workload (vs. Overwhelming) 35%

Sources: Table 88

Overall Mental Health/Burnout Cost Estimates

Metric Cost
Total U.S. burnout cost (all workers, all causes) ~$300 billion/year
Global burnout productivity loss (all workers) $322 billion/year
U.S. stress-related healthcare expenses (all workers) $190 billion in 2025
Global Gen Z Mental Health market size $31.1 billion in 2022
Spending on mental health services, employer-insured population +53% increase, March 2020–August 2022
Mental health service utilization, all Americans 22%
Projected 2026 medical plan cost trend increase +9%

Sources: Table 99

References

1Table 1:

  1. Gen Z Mental Health Statistics | 2026 Sourced report. (n.d.). https://worldmetrics.org/gen-z-mental-health-statistics/
  2. Ava. (2026, June 25). What 2026 youth mental health trends tell us. MGMT Digital. https://mgmtdigital.com/youth-mental-health-trends-2026/

2Table 2:

  1. Kudos. (2026, June 3). Deloitte's 2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey: 8 Takeaways for HR Leaders. Kudos Inc. https://www.kudos.com/blog/deloittes-gen-z-and-millennial-survey
  2. Gen Z and Millennial Survey 2026. (2026, May 13). Deloitte United Kingdom. https://www.deloitte.com/uk/en/about/press-room/gen-z-and-millennial-survey-2026.html
  3. 2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey | Deloitte Switzerland. (2026, July 31). Deloitte. https://www.deloitte.com/ch/en/issues/work/genz-millennial-survey.html
  4. Codd, E. (2024, June 4). Meeting the needs and expectations of Gen Zs and millennials on workplace mental health. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/deloitte/2024/05/21/meeting-the-needs-and-expectations-of-gen-zs-and-millennials-on-workplace-mental-health/
  5. 50+ Gen Z Statistics For Employers. (2026, July 6). Qureos. https://www.qureos.com/hiring-guide/gen-z-statistics

3Table 3:

  1. Meyer, J. (2026, March 23). The Digital Fatigue Crisis – 2026 Statistical Trends in Gen Z Health. North American Community Hub. https://nchstats.com/digital-fatigue-crisis-gen-z/
  2. Therapy, G. (2026, June 24). 40+ statistics shining light on Gen Z’s mental health in 2026. Grow Therapy. https://growtherapy.com/blog/gen-z-mental-health-statistics/
  3. Science Insights Team. (2026, March 15). Which generation has the worst mental health? - ScienceInsights. ScienceInsights. https://scienceinsights.org/which-generation-has-the-worst-mental-health/
  4. Deloitte Global. (2024). Mental health today. In Mental Health Deep Dive 2024. https://www.deloitte.com/content/dam/assets-shared/docs/campaigns/2024/genzmillennialsurvey-mental-health-deep-dive-2024.pdf?dlva=2

4Table 4:

  1. Compass Health Center. (2026, June 26). Young Adult Mental Health Report 2026: Facts & Statistics. https://compasshealthcenter.net/young-adult-mental-health-report-2026-facts-statistics/
  2. Taylor. (2026, April 9). Therapy Statistics for 2026 | Latest Trends & Insights. Anova Center For Therapy. https://anovatherapy.com/therapy-statistics/
  3. Therapy, G. (2026, June 24). 40+ statistics shining light on Gen Z’s mental health in 2026. Grow Therapy. https://growtherapy.com/blog/gen-z-mental-health-statistics/
  4. Murphy, J. (2026, August 8). Meditation statistics 2026: what the data actually shows. StillMind. https://getstillmind.com/blog/meditation-statistics-2026/
  5. Consulting US. (2025, August 14). Wellness industry growth driven by Gen Z and millennials. Consulting.us. https://www.consulting.us/news/12264/wellness-industry-growth-driven-by-gen-z-and-millennials
  6. Lech, E. (2024, November 19). Gen Z healthcare in 2026: Expectations & trends. Pragmatic Coders. https://www.pragmaticcoders.com/blog/gen-z-healthcare-app
  7. Coe, E., Doy, A., Enomoto, K., & Healy, C. (2023, April 28). Gen Z mental health: The impact of tech and social media. McKinsey Health Institute. https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/gen-z-mental-health-the-impact-of-tech-and-social-media

5Table 5:

  1. Wong, J. (2026, July 10). For Gen Z, hitting the gym is the new “going out” — 81 million members have jumped on the bandwagon as fitness clubs become social spaces. Moneywise. https://moneywise.com/life/lifestyle/gen-z-gym-fitness-industry-investment
  2. Himmelsbach, V. (2026, June 9). Gen Z is swapping bar tabs for run clubs — and US drinking just hit its lowest point since 1939. Yahoo Finance. https://finance.yahoo.com/economy/articles/gen-z-swapping-bar-tabs-183000743.html
  3. Business Wire & Eventbrite, Inc. (2026, January 14). Eventbrite's Inaugural Social Study Report Reveals the ‘Reset to Real': How Gen Z and Millennials Are Redefining Live Experiences in 2026. Barchart.com. https://www.barchart.com/story/news/37040219/eventbrite-s-inaugural-social-study-report-reveals-the-reset-to-real-how-gen-z-and-millennials-are-redefining-live-experiences-in-2026
  4. By The Currency editors. (n.d.). Americans to spend $60 billion on fitness in 2026. Empower. https://www.empower.com/the-currency/life/fitness-spending-news

6Table 6:

  1. YPulse. (2026, April 8). The Top 21 Mental Wellness Activities Among Millennials & Gen Z - YPulse. https://www.ypulse.com/article/2017/05/24/the-top-21-mental-wellness-activities-among-gen-z-millennials/
  2. Wong, J. (2026, July 10). For Gen Z, hitting the gym is the new “going out” — 81 million members have jumped on the bandwagon as fitness clubs become social spaces. Moneywise. https://moneywise.com/life/lifestyle/gen-z-gym-fitness-industry-investment
  3. Commisso, D. (2023, June 2). 3 Quick Self-Care trends that lead among Gen Z. CivicScience. https://civicscience.com/3-quick-self-care-trends-that-lead-among-gen-z/
  4. Vennare, J. (2026, June 2). Recovery rituals reshape social wellness. Fitt Insider. https://insider.fitt.co/recovery-rituals-reshape-social-wellness-cold-plunge-sauna-gen-z/
  5. Mailman, E. (2023, November 16). Yelp’s 2024 trend report reveals which wellness trends are surging. Time Out United States. https://www.timeout.com/usa/news/this-could-be-the-most-popular-wellness-trend-in-2024-111523
  6. Gjika, M. (2025, November 10). The top 10 wellness trends in 2025. Fitness Business Blog. https://www.trainerize.com/blog/wellness-trends/

7Table 7:

  1. Seramount press release, July 2025. (2025, July). https://seramount.com/about-us/seramount-news-and-press/millennials-and-gen-z-ers-face-steepest-mental-health-challenges-in-the-workplace/
  2. Khrystenko, V. (2026, May 13). 40 employee burnout statistics & trends in the workplace (2026). WorkTime. https://www.worktime.com/blog/statistics/employee-burnout-statistics-trends-in-the-workplace
  3. Tosini, J. (2026, April 19). 75% of workers now report burnout and the group hit hardest might surprise you. Mindset. https://mindsetonline.com/75-percent-workers-burnout-gen-z-hit-hardest/
  4. Riganese, F. (2026, July 8). Employee Burnout Statistics 2026 [Rates, Causes & Trends]. www.makerstations.io. https://www.makerstations.io/employee-burnout-statistics/
  5. Employee burnout statistics 2026: 50+ Facts Every Manager should know. (2026, March 31). eMonitor. https://www.employee-monitoring.net/resources/employee-burnout-statistics-2026
  6. Deckha, N. (2025). Gen Z is burning out at work more than any other generation — here’s why and what can be done. The Conversation. https://doi.org/10.64628/aam.x33w5nje7
  7. Gillis, J. (2026, May 5). The State of Workplace Burnout in 2025: A Comprehensive Research report - The interview guys. The Interview Guys. https://blog.theinterviewguys.com/workplace-burnout-in-2025-research-report/
  8. Statista. (2021, August 31). Burnout among U.S. employees pre-COVID Jan. 2020 vs Feb. 2021, by generation. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1256283/burnout-among-us-employees-by-generation/
  9. Survey reveals Gen Z and millennial sentiment around workplace mental heath efforts – Catherwood Library. (n.d.). https://catherwood.library.cornell.edu/wit/survey-reveals-gen-z-and-millennial-sentiment-around-workplace-mental-heath-efforts/

8Table 8:

  1. Tosini, J. (2026, April 19). 75% of workers now report burnout and the group hit hardest might surprise you. Mindset. https://mindsetonline.com/75-percent-workers-burnout-gen-z-hit-hardest/
  2. Kudos. (2026, June 3). Deloitte's 2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey: 8 Takeaways for HR Leaders. Kudos Inc. https://www.kudos.com/blog/deloittes-gen-z-and-millennial-survey
  3. 2026 Gen Z and Millennial Survey | Deloitte Malta. (2026, June 4). Deloitte. https://www.deloitte.com/mt/en/issues/work/genz-millennial-survey.html
  4. Deloitte’s 2025 Gen Z and Millennial Survey | Deloitte Global. (2025, May 14). Deloitte. https://www.deloitte.com/global/en/about/press-room/deloitte-2025-gen-z-and-millennial-survey.html
  5. INOP. (2026, August 6). Deloitte 2025 Gen Z & Millennial Survey: 5 Key findings + Statistics. INOP. https://inop.ai/deloitte-survey-2023-gen-z-and-millennial-concerns/
  6. Khrystenko, V. (2026, May 13). 40 employee burnout statistics & trends in the workplace (2026). WorkTime. https://www.worktime.com/blog/statistics/employee-burnout-statistics-trends-in-the-workplace

9Table 9:

  1. Wellhub. (2025, November 7). U.S. Work-Related Stress in 2025: Key Stats & Solutions | WellHub. https://wellhub.com/en-us/blog/wellness-and-benefits-programs/work-related-stress-in-the-united-states/
  2. Johnson, G. (2026, July 16). The real cost of burnout in 2026: What the latest data tells leaders. Exectras. https://exectras.com/2026/02/17/the-real-cost-of-burnout-in-2026-what-the-latest-data-tells-leaders/
  3. Gillis, J. (2026, May 5). The State of Workplace Burnout in 2025: A Comprehensive Research report - The interview guys. The Interview Guys. https://blog.theinterviewguys.com/workplace-burnout-in-2025-research-report/
  4. Therapy for Burnout Statistics 2026 | Rates, Causes & Key Workplace Facts. (2026, June 1). The Global Statistics. https://www.theglobalstatistics.com/therapy-for-burnout-statistics/
  5. Global Gen Z Mental Health Market Size, Trends, Share 2032. (2026, January 13). Custom Market Insights. https://www.custommarketinsights.com/report/gen-z-mental-health-market/
  6. Martinez, A. (2025, September 24). Roadblocks to Gen Z’s mental health care. Think Global Health. https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/roadblocks-gen-zs-mental-health-care
  7. Segal Survey Predicts 2026 Healthcare Costs Will Soar to Unprecedented Levels Due to Weight Loss Drugs and Inflation. (2025, September 9). Businesswire. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250909869556/en/Segal-Survey-Predicts-2026-Healthcare-Costs-Will-Soar-to-Unprecedented-Levels-Due-to-Weight-Loss-Drugs-and-Inflation
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