Gen Z’s Emotional Crisis: Why It’s Time to Rethink How We Support our Teenagers?

Over the past decade, there’s been a silent epidemic unfolding across schools, homes, and digital spaces. One that isn’t as visible as physical illness, but just as urgent.

I’m talking about the rise of anxiety and depression among adolescents.

This isn’t just a passing trend. It isn’t just a phase our teenagers are going through. It is a structural shift in how young people are experiencing and coping with life.

And if you have watched Netflix’s documentary series Adolescents, you’ll know the emotional terrain I’m talking about.

Bullying, toxic masculinity, social pressure. Teenagers today are seeing it’s all.

And mind you: these aren’t isolated issues. They’re interconnected layers of a broader identity crisis that today’s youth are navigating.

But what’s going wrong?

Psychologist Jonathan Haidt, whose work has deeply influenced the conversation around this, believes we’ve created a perfect storm. According to him, young people today are struggling not because they’re inherently fragile but because our systems are making them that way.

Here’s what he says is driving the crisis:

1. Overprotective parenting that shields kids from necessary life stressors.

2. Emotional reasoning: The idea that your feelings are always right.

3. Moral absolutism: A worldview divided into good vs. evil, with little nuance.

Haidt calls these “the three great untruths”, and they have rewired how Gen Z relates to every problem in their life.

The culture of fragility

Today’s teens are being raised in a culture of emotional fragility. Think about it. In an effort to protect them, an entire generation of parents has stopped preparing them.

Add to this the omnipresence of screens and social media where every scroll can trigger comparison, shame, or anxiety.

So what do we get? We get adolescents who are constantly plugged in, yet emotionally disconnected.

The result? A generation that's outwardly hyperconnected but inwardly unsure of who they are, how to regulate themselves, or how to handle life’s complexities.

What can we do?

This is where youth coaching plays a critical role.

As a bilingual, multicultural coach working with teens and families in Spain, India and globally, I have seen firsthand how the right guidance can change everything. It’s not about shielding them it’s about giving them the right tools.

What works?

👉🏼Helping teens build emotional regulation

👉🏼Encouraging critical thinking

👉🏼Creating space to explore identity without judgment

👉🏼Supporting parents to foster resilience over comfort

The work is deeply personal. But it’s also structural. We need more schools, families, and communities to get involved.

And it’s really up to us: coaches, parents, educators, and peers: to respond not with panic, but with purpose.

If this resonated with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

⚡️Are you a parent or educator noticing these shifts?

⚡️Are you a teen or young adult navigating these challenges yourself?

Let’s open this conversation wider.

— Goldie Uttamchandani

Youth Coach | Speaker | Advocate for Adolescent Mental Health