Gen Z's or Millennials are individuals who were born in the 1990s and up to 2010. I myself am a millennial and I'm proud of that. I'm proud of that because we're the generation that changed the stigma behind mental health. Were the generation that made those with mental health disorders feel like a somebody again and that they aren't the only ones going through it, myself included.
Although our generation has reported a very high amount of mental health disorders due to the high usage of social media and especially the COVID pandemic, we continue to push the idea that mental health should not be a taboo thing to talk about and to recognize. Our generation has kicked off many mental health campaigns not only in our country but throughout that world as well and this is something I will always be proud of.
Heads Up
This campaign started in the UK and explored the fact that the leading cause of death in men that are younger than 45 years old is suicide. Prince Harry was a major spokesperson for this campaign and used the sport of soccer to show mental health awareness among men. Although this campaign was created for both men and women and people of all ages, it hopes to have deeper effect on men under the age of 45 to let them know they are not alone.
The Power of Okay
This mental health campaign started in Scotland to recognize that mental health starts in the workplace. More than 1000 people were surveyed to found out how their mental health in the workplace was. The study found that 48% of people didn't tell their employer about their mental health issues due to the fear that they would lose their job. The creators of this campaign wanted to get the idea to people to ask their co-workers "are you okay" on a daily basis to bring the talk of mental health into the workplace normal.
#HereForYou
This amazing campaign was created by Instagram. The purpose of this campaign was to show that although people's lives on Instagram may seem perfect, that is not the truth of their life or their mental health. A one minute video was created by Instagram to highlight those who struggle with eating disorders, depression, and other mental health disorders in hope that influencers and normal users would use the #HereForYou and share their story to show that no one is alone in their mental health journey.
Wise Up
This campaign is one of my favorites because it highlights mental health in children that are elementary age. This campaign explores the fact that 1 in 3 children in an elementary classroom has a mental health disorder due to social media, bullying, test anxiety, and other social factors. The creators used this information to push legislators to give more funds to schools to support mental health in elementary-aged children.
Although our generation is often looked down upon by the older generations, I am proud to be a millennial. I am proud of us for creating a change in the mental health stigma. We are making a change and will continue to make a change. Remember that you are never alone in how you are feeling.
