While Gen Z-ers consistently take action to improve their well-being, anxiety over things like the economy and climate change still weighs heavily on a generation coming of age at a fraught time
Nearly all Gen Z youth report facing mental health challenges regularly, according to a new poll by BlueShield of California’s BlueSky youth mental health initiative and Children Now, a nonpartisan California-based research and policy organization.
The survey, conducted April through June 2025, included responses from 750 California youth ages 14 to 25 — 94% of whom reported experiencing mental health challenges in an average month.
“The data shows youth are deeply affected by the world around them, from climate anxiety and safety to social media pressures. Young people are concerned about the future and how we treat one another,” said Dr. Nicole Stelter, director of behavioral health at Blue Shield of California. “It’s more important than ever that clinicians, educators, policymakers and caring adults listen to what our youth are saying and treat this seriously for what it is — a youth mental health crisis.”
Gen Z Won’t Sacrifice Well-being, Despite Growing Concerns
Among their top concerns, according to the survey, Gen Z cited affordability, gun violence, climate change and discrimination as the main factors taking a toll on their mental health. Topping the list, the majority expressed financial concerns over things like housing affordability (87%), the cost of groceries (84%) and finding a good job (73%).
But despite the very real economic woes of today’s youth, Gen Z-ers are still not willing to sacrifice their physical and mental well-being for career success. A global study from earlier this year found that 51% of young people rate their mental and/or physical health as an important measure of future success, while a smaller percentage rated career success as important.
Another 2023 study from healthy eating app Lifesum revealed that 48% of Gen Z and Millennials said they’d quit their current job “tomorrow” in favor of one that better supports their health and wellness.
Even as Gen Z fears for its finances, fitness remains a top spending priority.
A recent survey from U.K.-based The Gym Group of more than 2,000 respondents aged 16 to 28 revealed that fitness is central for young people, with more than four in 10 (44%) ranking fitness as their top first or second discretionary spend. It also found that 73% of young people report working out at least twice per week, up 11 percentage points from 2024.
Fitness & Wellness Is at the Center of Gen Z Mental Health
To take care of their personal well-being, many turn to creative outlets and self-care strategies like listening to music and entertainment (77%), hobbies (62%), exercise (55%) and spending time outdoors (41%) to keep stress in check.
The Gym Group survey’s findings reflected a similar trend: a majority of respondents (87%) said working out improves or significantly improves their mental health, and more than half (55%) listed mental health as one of their top three reasons for exercising. That makes sense, given other data that reflects the mental health benefits for kids and teens who exercise, which last well into adulthood.
College campuses are listening to the outcry of Gen Z as well, especially those who make their physical and mental well-being a top priority. Several colleges have implemented or have plans to open wellness hubs, including the University of Pittsburgh and the University of San Diego.
Elsewhere at the University of Texas, Peloton has carved out a branded zone in Gregory Gym featuring seven Bike+ and Row stations, with live and on-demand classes free to students.
Fitness isn’t the only way that Gen Z-ers are actively working to improve their mental health. As young people are confronted with the uncertain future driven by climate change, many are engaging in pro-climate efforts such as reducing plastic use and picking up litter, the Blue Shield report says.
Despite how grim the majority of Gen Z feels about the future, they’re holding onto optimism; 63% report feeling hopeful for the future, which the report points out coincides with their active efforts to improve both their personal well-being and their communities.
“California’s youth today are facing unprecedented challenges driven by outside forces — from a now year-round wildfire season to an affordability crisis and social media pressures,” said Lishaun Francis, director of behavioral health at Children Now. “But they’re not passive. They want to be in the driver’s seat for their future and they’re clearly taking action.”
