The Mental Repercussions of Growing Up as a Millennial

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Figure 1 (Yarnton) 

              With all the stress of weak economic engagement, millennials are destined to have a life full of worry and poor health. To elaborate, 
No one would ever be able to predict what our mental health and well-being will look like in 20 years, but it's likely that we'll remain a generation characterized by anxiety and mental health—particularly considering our openness when it comes to discussing these topics. But we should be concerned by the prevalence of mental illness in our 20s. (Ewens, 2016) 
            The presence of social media and our constant contact coupled with economic deficiency leaves this generation in a severe slump. While Gen Y’s work tirelessly and aimlessly, they keep in mind that they are attempting to save for the future, which is not as successful as they had hoped. “We'll work longer than any generation yet, partially because we'll be supporting the children we had late in life until much later—an issue compounded by the fact the government is hell-bent on us working right up to the brink of death” (Ewens, 2016).  
            Satya Byock, a psychotherapist out of Portland, Oregon, meets with a millennial named Megan to discuss how she feels about her life currently. Byock claims that nothing about Megan’s story is unique and that, in fact, it encompasses many of the younger generations struggles and fears. Byock uncovers that Megan, although hardworking and ambitious, does not know what she wants for her life and that she has always been taught to “be successful”. There is a constant battle inside that, on one side, contains the confusion of life, and on the other, dealing with their “First-World problems” (Byock, 2018).  
            Like Megan, many millennials are pushed to fill their life with resume boosters to make sure they are successful into adulthood. For most, that means college. However,  
Between 2001 and 2016, the real amount of student debt owed by American households more than tripled, from about $340 billion to more than $1.3 trillion. The increase largely reflects an acceleration in student loan originations that was mainly due to a surge in college enrollment and ongoing increases in real tuition levels. (Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System) 
With rates climbing, it is more and more difficult for this generation to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  
            “The suffering among twenty-something’s today is acute and epidemic. People in their twenties are experiencing staggering rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental illness” (Byock, 2018). So, as much as jokes are made and judgments are passed… being a millennial is tough in this era. These feelings trickle into the workforce and can help paint a broader picture as to why millennial employees are driven in their own unique way.  

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