Although modern technology has had some adverse effects on the younger generation besides its benefits, a greater focus on mental health and social connections can help build healthier habits for life.
Ramaswamy Viswanathan, M.D.
President, American Psychiatric Association; Professor and Interim Chair of Psychiatry, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University
What is lifestyle psychiatry?
Lifestyle psychiatry is lifestyle medicine applied to the field of psychiatry for improving mental health and fitness, as well as addressing the physical health of patients with mental health disorders. There are conventionally Six Pillars of lifestyle medicine: nutrition, exercise, restorative sleep, social connectedness, avoidance of harmful substances, and stress amelioration. They all play a much bigger role in mental health than many people realize.
What lifestyle changes are affecting the younger generation’s mental health?
A major change is the explosion of social media and technology. Technology is a tool, and we all benefit by progress in technology. But like any tool it can be misused, and there can be unintended consequences. Social media can provide a distorted image of how others are. People assume that others are much happier and have better relationships. Also, so much time is spent on just social media, people really don’t spend enough time in one-on-one, face-to-face relationships, and don’t develop a deep social connectedness. These two factors have led to increase in suicide, depression and anxiety in this group, which is worrisome.
How can younger social media users protect their mental health?
Social media is quite important – it can promote connectedness in many ways. But at the same time, you really have to set limits. A close-knit friendship group can decide “we are not going to look at social media from this time to this time. Instead let’s try to get together. Maybe we can get together on a soccer field, or we can run together, or simply go to a park and enjoy nature.” These are just some ways you can try to limit excessive use of social media, and at the same time try to develop a deeper social connectedness.
Other than social media, are there any other struggles that you see specifically Gen Z dealing with that other generations haven’t had to?
Today, mass media and the news are instantaneous. A lot of violence has always happened in societies, but many people were kind of oblivious in the past. Now any horrible crime in one part of the world gets transmitted instantaneously throughout the world. This kind of communication can be good to society in some ways, but can be harmful in some other ways.
Another struggle that has always been there but has increased recently pertains to nutrition. Because of the mass marketing and ready availability of fast food and what we call junk food, there is an epidemic of childhood obesity, and even childhood type-two diabetes. Junk food now is highly processed, fiber and other helpful nutrients are removed, excess salt, sugar and sturatrated fat are added, and there are a lot more sugary drinks.
What differences have you seen from Gen Z in how they talk about mental health?
One thing good that is happening is Gen Z is more open to talking about mental health issues. It’s more normalized, they recognize that this could happen to anybody, even their friends. They’re also more inclusive of people who they perceive as having mental health problems, whereas in the olden days, people used to be more bullied and ostracized, kept out of social circles. A positive aspect of social media is that people talk more openly about their mental health struggles. When movie stars and athletes use social media to talk about their mental struggles and how they sought help for it, it can be a really powerful message for anybody to reach out for mental health.
Even though we are talking specifically about Gen-Z who are youth now, at some point they will become 60 years old, 80 years old, even 100 years old. Younger people typically don’t think about the future, but we have to be physically and mentally fit to have a very positive, joyous life. Many of the diseases affecting us at a later age have their onset in the 20s and 30s. People should begin incorporating the six pillars of lifestyle that I mentioned, and make following them a habit. Ultimately, we’re talking about moderation, not total avoidance or excess. When it comes to food, people can eat sugary, salty, fatty highly processed food sometimes, as long as most of the time they eat in a healthier manner. If people adopt a healthy lifestyle, they are not only helping their current mental and physical health, they’re also safeguarding their mental and physical health for decades to come.
