VOKASI NEWS – Generation Z, Mental Health and Self-Diagnosis is the impact of easy access to the internet and social media on the mental health of young people, and the dangers of self-diagnosis.
Generation Z is the generation born between 1997 and 2012. Just like the other generation, most of their behaviour is shaped by how they grow. The first Gen Zers were born when the use of the internet had just become universal. Since the internet has become so massive that everyone can access it from everywhere and anywhere, it also has some effects on Gen Z. The growth of the internet has also become the main reason for all their behaviour nowadays. Through the internet, Gen Z definitely has a different perspective from the previous generation because they can get a lot of information, have discussions with people all around the world, and much more, and this is completely different from the previous generation.
There are many things that distinguish Gen Z from its previous generations, but one of them is their sensitivity to mental health. Maybe the other generation would see the mental health issue as something that is not really important. They tend to think that mental health is always related to people who lost their sanity; they also tend to take mental health for granted and only go to the professional after it gets serious. However, mental health is not that simple, and it is indeed more complex than it seems.
Gen Z and Their Awareness of Mental Health
Generation Z understands well that everyone has a different state of mental health. They understand that different things will have different impacts on different people’s mental health. This generation is also more aware of these issues than previous generations. Whereas the previous generation was ashamed and underestimated going to a psychologist and getting help from an expert, Generation Z is aware and does not cover it up.
They are the generation that believes that mental health is just as important as physical health. Although mental health cannot be seen with the eyes, it still has to be healed, just like a physical wound. Since the internet is very massive nowadays and people can access it easily, this generation can access information about mental health straightforwardly. However, this convenience does not always have good effects; sometimes it also has bad effects. For instance, the self-diagnoses that sometimes Generation Z did
Gen Z and Self-Diagnoses About Mental Health
With all the convenience of the internet that Generation Z has, they could access it whenever and wherever they want. They do not face the problem just like the other generations to access the information. Generation Z can access the information with just one touch through their smartphones. They can find answers related to their feelings very easily, including when looking for answers to the symptoms they are feeling, especially those related to mental health.
Since going to the psychologist costs a lot of money, some Gen Zers tend to look up their symptoms on the internet. When they see the symptoms of a disease and they are the same as what they feel, they will then think that it is the disease that they are suffering from. Self-diagnosis is definitely not something that can be done by ordinary people because, to diagnose a disease, it must go through its own stages. Self-diagnosis causes unnecessary worry that can lead to generalized anxiety disorder and interfere with a person’s daily activities. Other than that, self-diagnoses could also lead someone to miss diagnoses, and that is very dangerous.
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When compared to some other generations, Generation Z’s awareness of mental health has clearly increased. They realize that mental health is just as important as physical health. However, due to the ease of finding information, sometimes Generation Z self-diagnoses, which is not a good thing for ordinary people to do. So, if you feel something is wrong with your body, immediately seek professional help because they are much more knowledgeable than searching via the internet.
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Author: Venaya Salsadilla Novyanti
Editor: Puspa Anggun Pertiwi
