UNICEF Perception of Youth Mental Health Report 2025
Understanding the mental health impact of global challenges on Gen Z
How are global challenges impacting Gen Z mental health?
Gen Z are shaping the future—as purpose-driven consumers, workers, and changemakers redefining business and sustainability.
Yet their mental health is impacted, and they often lack the support needed to act and build the future they want.
By failing them, we strip them of their agency.
We can and must do better.
The private sector has a unique opportunity to lead on one of the most pressing issues of our time: youth mental health.
This inaugural perception study on youth mental health, led by the Global Coalition for Youth Mental Health, explores how Gen Z (ages 14-25) perceive and experience the mental health impact of today’s world.
It amplifies both their growing concerns and their resilience, creativity, and determination.
Understanding perception is the first step toward meaningful action. By listening more deeply — not just to the facts, but to the feelings — we can begin to design and scale solutions that are grounded in empathy and centered on well-being.
“We are trying to push the conversation further for all generations so they can get the support they need....
We want them to feel open to having these conversations with younger generations.”
Karina, 24
Mental Health Youth Network Member, UNICEF Mexico
The news consumption paradox
Gen Z are deeply engaged with the world’s future. They want to have a role in shaping the future of their communities and countries.
Despite an overwhelming news cycle, Gen Z actively consume news more than any other type of content – they feel a strong sense of accountability for shaping the future.
This constant engagement comes at a cost. 6 in 10 Gen Z report feeling overwhelmed by news and events happening in their community, their country, and the world at large.
Overwhelm erodes well-being and empowerment. Gen Z who feel this sense of overwhelm are more likely to report lower well-being. Those with low well-being, in turn, feel a heightened sense of disempowerment.
By not supporting them, we are stripping Gen Z of their agency in contributing to making the world a better place for themselves and future generations.
Stigma and mental health support
Despite strong familiarity with the topic of mental health, the battle against stigma is not yet won.
While Gen Z are well-versed in mental health discourse, negative perceptions around people speaking about their mental health are still very strong.
Access to support and effective coping mechanisms remains a challenge:
- 4 in 10 of Gen Z still feel stigma in schools and workplaces
- 4 in 10 of Gen Z felt they needed help with their mental health
- 52% of Gen Z are knowledgeable about where to find resources and help to support their mental health and well-being
- 55% of Gen Z find the activities and action they do to manage stress, anxiety and overwhelm effective
Driving collective action
Gen Z demands collective action, and they want to be in the driver’s seat. They recognize that addressing mental health challenges requires collaboration across generation, sectors and institutions - and they want to be at the head of this table.
1 in 3 Gen Z want to themselves have a leading role in helping adolescents and young people manage the impacts of the stress, anxiety, or being overwhelmed due to news or events happening in their community, country, or the world.
Schools and employers stand out as a positive forces for Gen Z mental health
There are clear expectations that they continue leading the charge to help young people.
Gen Z have high expectations for schools to play a role, and schools are seen to deliver on this with strong positive impact:
- 74% say that schools should have a role in helping young people manage the impact of the stress, anxiety, or being overwhelmed due to news or events.
- 6 in 10 say that schools have a positive impact on young people managing the impact of the stress, anxiety, or being overwhelmed due to news or events
Employers are also viewed as important contributors to improving mental health, and many deliver on this expectation:
- 60% say that employers should have a role in helping young people manage the impact of the stress, anxiety, or being overwhelmed due to news or events.
- 1 in 2 say that employers have a positive impact on young people managing the impact of the stress, anxiety, or being overwhelmed due to news or events.
Listen to the future
Gen Z are powerful agents of change, bringing new ideas and perspectives that can help shape a better future for all of us.
By investing in prevention, promotion, and care, businesses can help ensure that young people and their caregivers have timely access to quality mental health support. The private sector can play a critical role by championing holistic approaches and partnering with youth, NGOs, and governments to:
- Expand access to quality support through investment in promotion, prevention and care for children, youth, and caregivers
- Strengthen data and research to bridge the evidence gap
- Promote employee and caregiver well-being through internal strategies
Now is the time to act
Evidence-based solutions exist and are ready to scale. Your leadership can drive innovation, shift mindsets, and break the silence around mental health—while also enhancing your workforce, communities, and brand purpose.
UNICEF’s success is built on strong partnerships—including with the private sector.
" We invite you to join the largest private sector alliance for youth mental health. As a partner in the Global Coalition for Youth Mental Health, you will help transform insights into action by supporting scalable, evidence-based solutions at the country level and lending your voice to a unified global advocacy movement. "
Carla Haddad Mardini - Director, Private Fundraising and Partnerships, UNICEF
Highlights
How are global challenges impacting Gen Z mental health?
Gen Z are shaping the future—as purpose-driven consumers, workers, and changemakers redefining business and sustainability.
Yet their mental health is impacted, and they often lack the support needed to act and build the future they want.
By failing them, we strip them of their agency.
We can and must do better.
This inaugural perception study on youth mental health, led by the Global Coalition for Youth Mental Health, explores how Gen Z (ages 14-25) perceive and experience the mental health impact of today’s world.
It amplifies both their growing concerns and their resilience, creativity, and determination.
