This article was authored by Alesandro Demarchi, a research intern at Libertas Institute.
Gen Z is used to making headlines. We’ve been labeled the most diverse and educated generation, but also as the most entitled and lazy. No matter your opinion, you’ll be familiar with the headlines that more than any others have come to define us: we’re a generation constantly struggling with mental health.
According to a study by Harmony Healthcare IT, 42% of Gen Zers report having a diagnosed mental health condition. The American Psychological Association finds that 58% claim being completely overwhelmed by stress on most days and 66% believe no one understands how stressed they are. Self-reported stress levels for Gen Zers are 76% higher than for older Americans.
Many of these struggles are often accompanied by other issues such as bullying, drug addiction, or underage drinking.
While social media usage and the Covid-19 pandemic have defined our coming of age, mental health struggles in youths have roots that go deeper into our public school system. Lacking a sense of purpose and significance is a strong indicator of unhappiness and poor mental health among students. So, although keeping up with everything online and chasing the latest trend can be disorienting, it only adds on to the underlying challenges Gen Zers are facing.
A study by the Walton Family Foundation found higher reported happiness to be associated with confidence in one’s life purpose and interest in school work, but also lower reported anxiety and depression levels.
Professor Peter Gray notes how, over the past two decades, students’ ability to pursue their interests and fulfill their potential has been eclipsed by a shift towards a rigid curriculum and focus on testing. Unsurprisingly, this has made school performance pressure the main cause of anxiety among students.
Conventional public schools no longer empower students to chart their own paths. Upon graduation, many lack a clear sense of purpose to navigate the world. Younger members of our generation deserve more options.
This is where school choice can make a difference. Helping students develop a sense of purpose in what they do each day can happen in different ways. Some may need more character development activities, while others might just need to approach subjects from a different perspective.
It’s no surprise mental health is the number one reason cited by parents who are looking for alternatives to traditional public schools. Students in need should be able to choose from as many schooling options as possible, regardless of their socio-economic background.
Researchers at the Cato Institute found that states with broad school choice programs experience declines in adolescent suicide rates (accurate indicators for overall mental health across the student population). Additionally, these programs improve the long-term mental health of participating young adults even after graduation.
School choice programs also lead to higher attendance rates and improved outcomes in terms of behavior, juvenile crime, and other peer effects. These effects are consistent with the non-academic reasons that push parents to look for educational alternatives.
Helping students find their way in life should be a fundamental pillar of education. Instead, performance pressure is taking a toll on our generation and leaving many disoriented. School choice can give every student the opportunity to find their path and help them overcome the challenges of a world moving at lightning speed.