Hurricanes, Natural Disasters And Gen Z’s Mental Health
The recent extreme weather have you anxious?
You are not alone. Every disaster can feel like another heavy event in a long line of global issues that they have experienced directly or seen from a distance throughout their lives.
New data from Project Healthy Minds highlights the mounting pressures Americans face, from election stress to financial worries.
A survey conducted by The Harris Poll for Project Healthy Minds took place from October 1-3, 2024, involving over 2,000 U.S. adults. Here’s what they said:
The poll revealed that 58 percent of Gen Z and 56 percent of millennials feel that extreme weather events such as wildfires and hurricanes have negatively impacted their mental health in the past year, compared to 47 percent of baby boomers.
Moreover, 20 percent of Gen Z and 15 percent of millennials indicated a significant detrimental effect on their mental well-being, while only 9 percent of boomers reported the same.
Kristin Wilson, licensed professional counselor, certified clinical trauma professional and chief experience officer at Newport Healthcare told Newsweek that weather events are having an increasingly significant impact on young people.
“Weather events and natural disasters may be having a more significant impact on younger people’s mental health today compared to previous generations for several reasons,” Wilson said.
