Wellbeing | What does good mental health support for Generation Z look like?

By Tracey Ward, Head of Business Development & Marketing at Generali UK Employee Benefits

Levels of stress, anxiety and burnout do not seem to be improving for Generation Z (under 26-year olds), according to research. With ever-increasing pressure on NHS services, and private options being out of reach for most – cost of living crisis or not – we investigate the employer’s role; in terms of prevention as well as early intervention. We discuss the kind of issues facing Generation Z and ask how employer support might evolve to meet needs.*

Research shows that mental health support in the workplace is deemed a more important topic for young people than climate change, job security and economic inequality. In other words, mental health is a vital consideration in recruitment and retention.

Against this backdrop, however, almost 3 in 10 line managers are unaware of National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) mental health guidelines, according to research by our early intervention partner Working To Wellbeing. These guidelines were introduced in 2021 to help evolve thinking on workplace mental health support, making it clear that the organisation has a foundational role to play. This is about focusing on organisational aspects – such as culture and management practices – as well as interventions and benefits.