NEW POLL: 94% OF GEN Z YOUTH REPORT EXPERIENCING REGULAR MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES

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Sep 30, 2025, 09:03 ET

Affordability, climate change, gun violence and discrimination are top concerns; youths say they are coping by talking to peers, taking positive action.

OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Gen Z youth are sounding the alarm: nearly all (94%) report experiencing mental health challenges in an average month. That's according to a new poll of California teens and young adults by Blue Shield of California's BlueSky youth mental health initiative and Children Now.

Despite challenges, youth are also taking action:

NEW POLL: 94% OF GEN Z YOUTH REPORT EXPERIENCING REGULAR MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES

69% say they have talked to a friend about their mental health.
Of the 78% who say they are concerned about climate change, nearly all respondents (99%) concerned about climate change say they've taken at least one pro-climate action in the past year.

The BlueSky Youth Mental Health Survey polled 750 California youths, ages 14 to 25, from urban and rural communities across the state about their mental health challenges and how they access and navigate support.

"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."

Top concerns: Affordability, climate, discrimination and safety

Affordability pressures: The majority expressed concerns about making ends meet, citing concerns including things like housing affordability (87%), the cost of groceries (84%) and finding a good job (73%).
Gun violence and climate change: 85% cited gun violence and 78% cited climate change as major stressors.
Discrimination: 78% reported concerns about racism. 67% said discrimination against LGBTQ+ people is a stressor, while concern about discrimination against immigrants ranked even higher at 81%.

Youth cope by taking action

Despite facing significant challenges, California youth remain largely optimistic: 63% said they feel hopeful for the future. Many are actively engaging in efforts to protect their mental health and advocate for change.

In addition to talking with friends, youth are engaging in pro-climate efforts such as reducing plastic use and picking up litter. They also turn to creative outlets and self-care strategies like listening to music and entertainment (77%), hobbies (62%), exercise (55%) and time outdoors (41%) to manage stress and stay grounded.

"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."

Social media: positive and negative impact on youth mental health

Time on social media: The majority of Gen Z youth (56%) report spending four or more hours a day on social media. Nearly two-thirds (63%) say it is their primary source of news and information.
Positive impact: 42% believe social media is somewhat or mostly helpful to their mental health. Almost all youth (97%) use social media for "fun and entertainment," 96% say they learn new things on their social channels and nearly 9 in 10 (87%) report meaningful connections to family and friends, as well as "people like them."
Negative impact: At the same time, 31% say social media is somewhat or mostly harmful. 84% cite misinformation as a big concern, and nearly three quarters (72%) say it negatively impacts their body image. One in three youth report experiencing cyberbullying.

Disproportionate mental health challenges across identities and geographies

While the survey revealed mental health challenges across all youth, notable disparities emerged across different identity groups and regions:

Youth of color: 98% of youth who reported poor mental health identify as youth of color.
LGBTQ+ youth: 91% expressed concern about discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community.
Regional differences: Gen Z youth in Los Angeles — where communities have faced recent devastating wildfires, along with immigration and affordability pressures — reported the highest levels of fair or poor mental health (42%), compared to 30% statewide when asked, "How is your mental health today?"

Embarrassment continues to be a major barrier to care

Among youth who wanted professional mental health support but didn't receive it, 35% cite embarrassment as a barrier. Even among those who did receive care, stigma and embarrassment were common obstacles.

"It's clear that stigma is still standing in the way of healing," said Paula Ambrose, who leads Blue Shield's BlueSky initiative. "What we hear from youth and our members directly informs our work — shaping how we design programs, communicate and advocate for change. Reducing stigma isn't just about encouraging youth to speak up — it's also about making sure we're listening and acting on what they're telling us."

About the poll and BlueSky: The online survey — a project of Blue Shield of California's BlueSky youth mental health initiative — was conducted by Children Now, a leading nonpartisan, California-based research and policy organization. Conducted April through June 2025, the poll reached 750 California youth ages 14-25.Click here to download the summary report, including more on the methodology.Blue Shield of California conducted a similar BlueSky Youth Mental Health Survey with Harris Poll in 2023.

BlueSky is a multi-year effort to promote emotional well-being for young people across California. Since 2019, BlueSky has supported over 25,000 youth and educators through on-campus and online mental health services, educator training and youth-driven advocacy programs.

About Blue Shield of California
Blue Shield of California strives to create a healthcare system worthy of its family and friends that is sustainably affordable. The health plan is a taxpaying, nonprofit, independent member of the Blue Shield Association with 6 million members, over 6,500 employees and more than $27 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 in San Francisco and now headquartered in Oakland, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medicaid and Medicare healthcare service plans in California. The company has contributed more than $60 million to the Blue Shield of California Foundation in the last three years to have an impact on California communities. For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit news.blueshieldca.com . Or follow us on LinkedIn or Facebook .