Gen Z kids struggle with mental health across Southern NM

By Juan Corral, Southern New Mexico Journalism Collaborative via KRWG
Nov. 16, 2024 

LAS CRUCES – Southern New Mexico’s kids are experiencing a mental health crisis.

Along with a trend seen nationwide, Southern New Mexico’s current middle and high schoolers – who together comprise the younger members of Gen Z – are experiencing steeper mental health challenges than kids before them. And they’re living out a seeming paradox. On one hand, youth overall are engaging in less risky behaviors – like drinking and smoking – than earlier generations. But they’re seeing higher rates of anxiety, depression and suicidal behavior. One Las Cruces-based mental health counselor said an overall lack of motivation is a big problem in schools.

The youngest cohort of Gen Z, the generation whose ages now are about 12 to 27, had the unfortunate distinction of entering their teen years and growing up amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a chaotic time that, for many reasons, didn’t help their existing mental health challenges. Students were stuck, for months, at in-home learning and lacked the face-to-face social connections and structural support that in-person school offers. Local experts said the ripple effects on kids’ mental health are still being felt.

Read more at KRWG