Amid lockdowns, unemployment, and increased loneliness and stress, the pandemic has wreaked havoc on people’s mental health. To unpack these emotions, many Americans are looking to counseling, with younger generations especially eager to confront and improve their mental health. We explore the insights behind this and why Gen Zers are seeking teletherapy.
Research conducted by YouGov reveals increased interest in therapy during the pandemic. Gen Zers are more likely to have sought counseling in comparison to older generations: in October 2020, 23% of 18- to 24-year-olds say they’ve sought mental health counseling, an increase of ten percentage points since April, and the highest figure of all age categories. Overall, 14% of American adults have sought mental health counseling, with 22% of people aged 25 to 34 and only 5% of over-55s doing so. This is a step in the right direction, considering that a June 2020 survey finds that one in four 18- to 24-year-olds had seriously considered suicide in the previous 30 days.
With lockdowns still in place to some extent across the country, it’s likely that many of these therapy sessions will be done remotely. Research suggests that people are prone to disclosing personal information on their smartphones, which is good news for telehealth brands using apps to provide mental health support. Indeed, mental health start-ups raised $1.4 billion in the first nine months of 2020, more than all of 2019. But attending therapy for the first time can be intimidating – especially if the session is online. Looking to demystify the idea of therapy for first-timers, Frame offers insights into what a session entails by using short videos featuring therapists explaining the process.
Precious Osoba is a junior behavioural analyst at Canvas8. Fascinated by the how's and why's of people & culture, she has a background in social sciences having studied Anthropology, Sociology & Communication & Culture prior to her Marketing Degree.
