US workers’ mental health has declined sharply within the last decade. Guardian’s latest research report dives into why, including the impact of financial stress, the barriers to mental health care access, the influence of substance use, the loneliness that can be caused by social media, and much more.
Over half (52%) of US adults have experienced elevated stress levels in the last year.
The younger the adult, the worse they rate their mental health. Generation Z reports being less happy and less healthy, having less meaning in their lives, poorer relationships, and — the greatest stressor of all — being less financially stable compared to their older counterparts. In addition to Gen Z, caregivers and single parents experience an outsized amount of stress, causing their emotional health to suffer.