People born in the 1990s have the worst mental health of any generation before them — and the millennials are not recovering as they age

People born in the 1990s have the worst mental health of any generation before them — and the millennials are not recovering as they age, per NYP.

A research team at the University of Sydney has identified a noticeable decline in the mental well-being of successive generations since the 1950s, with mental health challenges becoming more prominent across various age groups.

The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, challenges the assumption that mental health issues primarily affect younger generations, revealing an ongoing impact on those approaching middle age. Dr. Richard Morris, the lead author, emphasized the changing pattern and expressed concern about the lack of mental health improvement as individuals transition from young adulthood to older age. The research, initiated to understand the decline in Australians' mental health since around 2010, tracked changes in the mental well-being of over 27,500 Australians from 2001 to 2020.

The study highlighted the worsening mental health of younger generations, particularly those born in the 1990s, which is not improving with age, in contrast to older cohorts. Social media, excessive screen time, climate change, lack of physical activity, poor sleep, and shifts in the nature of work were identified as potential contributors to the declining mental health trend.