A new poll of California teens and young adults reveals an alarming mental health crisis among Generation Z. According to the BlueSky Youth Mental Health Survey conducted by Blue Shield of California and Children Now, nearly all (94%) report experiencing mental health challenges in an average month.
The survey polled 750 California youths aged 14 to 25 from urban and rural communities across the state. Despite these challenges, youth are taking action: 69% say they have talked to a friend about their mental health. Top concerns include affordability pressures, with the majority expressing concerns about housing affordability (87%), the cost of groceries (84%), and finding a good job (73%). Additionally, 85% cited gun violence and 78% cited climate change as major stressors. Regarding discrimination, 78% reported concerns about racism, 67% said discrimination against LGBTQ+ people is a stressor, and 81% expressed concern about discrimination against immigrants.
The majority of Gen Z youth (56%) report spending four or more hours a day on social media, with nearly two-thirds (63%) saying it is their primary source of news and information. While 42% believe social media is somewhat or mostly helpful to their mental health, 31% say it is somewhat or mostly harmful. Among negative impacts, 84% cite misinformation as a concern, and nearly three-quarters (72%) say social media negatively impacts their body image. One in three youth report experiencing cyberbullying.
Despite facing significant challenges, 63% of California youth said they feel hopeful for the future. Many are actively engaging in pro-climate efforts such as reducing plastic use and picking up litter, and they 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. However, embarrassment continues to be a major barrier to care, with 35% of youth wanting professional support citing embarrassment as an obstacle.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://news.blueshieldca.com/2025/09/30/new-poll-94-of-gen-z-youth-report-experiencing-regular-mental-health-challenges