With modern health care and an increasing awareness of mental health challenges, we should be living in a golden age for mental health. Sadly, this isn’t the case. The United States is in the grip of a millennial mental health crisis. People aged 25 to 44 are dying at far higher rates than in other wealthy countries, raising questions about the quality of mental health and addiction support in America.
In this article, we explore young adult mortality in the United States, highlighting alarming overdose and suicide rates, and what we can do to change them.
The Millennial Mental Health Crisis: Recent Data on Millennial Mortality Rates
Data compiled by the CDC classified a significant proportion of the 2023 deaths of Americans aged 65 and under as “excess deaths.” This means these deaths might have been avoided if the individuals had lived in a different developed country. People aged 25 to 44 account for 62% of these deaths.
Excess deaths rose across all countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, but we’re now well past the pandemic period and the data should have normalized. U.S. mortality data for 2023 has returned to the levels projected prior to the pandemic, but still remains high compared to other countries.
The Role of Mental Health: Suicide, Overdose and Chronic Stress
More than 49,000 people died by suicide in 2023 alone, and there were 1.5 million suicide attempts. Almost 80% of individuals who take their own life are male, and those aged 85 and older have the highest rate of suicide. However, the combined rates of suicide among those aged 25 to 44 account for a significant number of deaths.
Drug-involved overdose death statistics are also alarming, with over 100,000 people in the United States dying due to an overdose of an illicit or prescription drug in 2023. Mental health challenges and substance abuse go hand in hand, and many of these deaths might have been avoided if better mental health support was available.
Chronic stress isn’t something that only affects young people. However, millennial opioid overdose fatalities increased by 500% between 1999 and 2017 as job shortages, financial instability and the loneliness epidemic all put strain on this generation.
Economic, Social and Digital Pressures Unique to Millennials
Millennials have faced numerous once-in-a-generation challenges in their lifetimes. Many joined the workforce during the Great Recession and saw housing prices increase to the point that homeownership went out of reach.
They struggled with a decline in mobility, social isolation during the pandemic and job threats due to the emergence of AI. Younger millennials and those in Gen Z have spent most of their lives in a world dominated by social media, and may have had their brains shaped by constant exposure to habit-forming technologies.
Connections made on social media can be superficial compared to those formed in real life, and the pressure to appear popular online can be crippling. Without close personal connections, young people find themselves without the kind of support network enjoyed by previous generations.
How Untreated Mental Health Issues Contribute to Early Death
When a person is struggling with their mental health, they can fall into a pattern of self-harm, suicidal ideation or substance abuse. Individuals living with serious mental illness have a 10- to 25-year decrease in life expectancy compared to their peers, partly due to poor health behaviors.
Limited access to health care, especially in deprived socioeconomic groups, increases the disparity in life expectancy. Millennials who are unable to access the mental health support they need are more likely to develop health issues such as obesity, practice self-harm or fall into a pattern of substance abuse.
The Need for Early Intervention and Access to Care
Treating mental health issues and providing people with the information and support they need to lead a healthy lifestyle can greatly improve life expectancies. This kind of preventive health care is common in some parts of Europe, where life expectancies are longer and excess deaths are fewer.
Recognizing early signs of anxiety, depression or ADHD helps health care providers support people in regaining control of their lives. Treating mental health conditions and removing the stigma surrounding them reduces the likelihood of those conditions becoming severe.
Good mental health support also reduces the risk of people self-medicating in ways that do more harm. In the long term, this could reduce health care costs as people not only live longer, but they maintain a higher quality of life for more of those years.
Rethinking Public Health Priorities for a Generation in Crisis
Social safety nets are already in place in the form of Medicaid, social housing support, programs such as SNAP and public health initiatives. However, comparing excess deaths between the United States and other developed countries suggests such public policies are still lacking.
To improve mental health and well-being among American Millennials, we must look at gaps in coverage or ways the system can better support those in the greatest need. Whether it’s achieved through improving awareness of mental health issues, ensuring easier access to substance abuse rehab centers, or providing economic support to help people get back on their feet after a difficult time is something for policymakers to debate. What’s clear is that something must be done to ensure economic stability for Millennials, Gen Z and future generations.
Contact FHE Health for Help Today
At FHE Health, we’re trying to do our part to support people struggling with addiction and mental health challenges. From providing post-traumatic stress disorder support to veterans to helping young professionals battle alcohol addiction, we can address a variety of challenges and conditions. If you’re struggling with your mental health, or care for someone who’s battling addiction, contact us today to learn about the addiction treatment, recovery programs and mental health services we offer.
