GENERATION ANXIETY
Almost half of the Canadian population (41%) is at high risk of mental health issues. For Millennials, this number is 63%, as they are the most at risk generation. One of the most present mental health issue in this generation is anxiety. But why do so many millennials are affected by a anxiety disorder?
Financial troubles
Money represents a very important worry for our generation. As mentioned in a previous article, Millennials are faced with debt and financial realities that are different than previous generations.
Technology’s impact on sleep
Having grown up with an easy access to technology and within the digital age, our generation is often described as overstimulated. Many studies have shown that our sleep is disrupt by the excessive use of digital screens, which could predispose us to suffer from anxiety.
Work-life balance
The access to technology and the modernity of work methods have transformed the work-life balance. In the past, it was easier to leave professional worries at work. Today, it is harder to separate both, as we are never fully leaving our professional worries at work (for those of us whose work is associated to a physical location) and those invade our personal lives. This is partly due to the fact that for millennials, it isn’t simply the hours put into work that count, but also the results.
Taking decisions
Our modern society offers us many choices and possibilities. Even if the variety of possibilities is positive and allows us more freedom, many millennials find it difficult to make a decision. By being offered various choices, our society forces us to analyze every little choice (even some that weren’t a choices not long ago because they were the only option), which is linked to anxiety.
Even tough the percentage of millennials that suffer or will suffer for mental health issues is alarming, it is important to contextualize this number. We have to take into account the fact that our generation is more conscious and puts more importance on mental health than previous ones. It is normal that we are more diagnosed, because we are more comfortable discussing it and seeking professional help.