If [high achievement] is the standard, I should be reaching it all the time, and a big part of that becomes burnout. Hong Kong kids go through that a lot
“Social media exposes young people to more things at once and creates high expectations to achieve certain milestones by a specific age” – such as finishing university, starting a career, meeting a partner and owning a home.
Those who study Gen Z describe them as driven, practical, very social, confident and realistic. For some who suffer from mental health issues, this has meant taking matters into their own hands to help themselves – and others.
We meet two Gen Z advocates who are recovering from mental health problems and are showing others how to open up about their troubles and find the help they need.
She says: “If [high achievement] is the standard, I should be reaching it all the time, and a big part of that becomes burnout. Hong Kong kids go through that a lot. How can you even have time to reflect on how you feel if you’re going from school to tuition to … your activity and then home?”
In 2020, while Gan was in Year 11, she attended a youth mental health symposium. There, she met students sharing how their schools approached the issue – and realised her school lacked student-led mental health initiatives.
School counsellors were available for students, but many felt approaching them for help was too formal, and did not want to be stigmatised. Talking to peers, Gan realised, was a more comfortable and accessible first step.
My biggest piece of advice is just to talk more, with your friends and with your community. Having more conversations with your peers, that’s the process of destigmatising [mental illness]
This inspired Gan to develop Peace of Mind, a student-powered mental health advocacy group. Collaborating with the student council, it organised a mental health week to get people talking.
“We wanted to encourage the conversation around mental health, not just through posters, but also by letting people know what resources they could access at school for help,” she says.
Peace of Mind established an active social media presence, using Instagram infographics to describe how to achieve work-life balance, cope with academic burnout, understand intergenerational trauma, and more.
The group makes mental health terms more accessible and less daunting, encouraging students to seek help without feeling stigmatised.
“For personal support, definitely look to your peers, because they’re literally going through the exact same thing,” Gan says. “Maybe you vocalising [your need for support] is starting the conversation.”
Eu’s turning point came when she moved to Southern California in the US in her teens. There, she found the support she needed and began therapy at 18. From there, her journey to recovery gained momentum.
“It was really cool because a couple hundred people came back and were like ‘woah, we missed you’,” she says.
While social media can exacerbate the symptoms of mental illness, especially among Gen Z, Eu’s platform offers a refreshing take on using it for good.
Her content has evolved into a wellness and accountability diary, with pleasing images, how-tos, and long captions describing topics she discussed in therapy and issues she was working through. She has a podcast, also, on Instagram, as solidaritypod.
Her positive messaging has resonated with over 130,000 people on Instagram, and her social media page has grown into a community of its own, with followers sending support and encouragement.
Balancing her mental health, social media presence, and academic pursuits is a constant challenge. Eu emphasises the importance of prioritising time and pursuits.
Cutting out TV shows and focusing on reading has allowed her to create content that reflects what she has learned about mental health and personal well-being.
“My biggest piece of advice is just to talk more, with your friends and with your community,” Eu says. “Having more conversations with your peers, that’s the process of destigmatising [mental illness]. We thrive on connection, we thrive on community.”
Gan and Eu’s stories both underscore the power of community and resilience in addressing mental health challenges. Their efforts inspire hope for a future where mental health is prioritised and seeking help is normalised.
