Modern Wisdom #754 - Freya India - Deconstructing The Female Mental Health Crisis
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Mar 7, 2024 
Freya India, a writer and journalist specializing in female mental health, sheds light on the bleak state of Gen Z girls today. She discusses the alarming rise of anxiety, depression, and the glamorization of medication in popular culture. Social media's detrimental impact on self-esteem and the commercialization of mental distress are key topics. Freya also explores the modern dating landscape, highlighting the risk-averse tendencies among young women, and critiques the influence of pop culture role models in shaping their mental health narratives.
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Gen Z Mental Health Crisis
- Gen Z girls' mental health has declined sharply since the early 2010s, marked by increased anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicide.
- Social media's rise correlates with this decline, especially given girls' higher usage and targeted advertising exploiting their vulnerabilities.
Monetizing Mental Distress
- Companies exploit normal adolescent anxieties, like body image concerns or relationship insecurities, for profit.
- They target girls with ads for beauty products, therapy services, and medication, intensifying these feelings to an unmanageable degree.
Therapy Culture's Downsides
- 24/7 online therapy, while seemingly helpful, can hinder resilience by providing instant gratification for negative emotions.
- This promotes a "therapy culture" that pressures Gen Z to achieve perfect mental health, pathologizing normal feelings.