Are millennials the generation to normalise mental health?
Are millennials the perfect generation to normalise mental health issues? Gabrielle Magid believes so.
Gabrielle Magid is the founder of Stronger Than Stigma, a non-profit organisation on a mission to empower, inspire, and support those struggling with mental health issues.
She’s also a millennial.
This generation of people born between 1980 and 2000 cop a bit of flack for being lazy, entitled, and self-centred.
And yet, they might just be one of the most connected, empathetic, and open generations in history.
As Gabrielle puts it: “We’re loud, we’re on social media, we hate being told no, and we want to connect with our deepest, fullest selves. Our grandparents denied it [mental health] was a thing. Our parents snuck off to therapy. We’re here to talk and change the game.”
Bold words from a bold founder – but Gabrielle isn’t trying to engage in generational warfare.
Millennials speaking out isn’t about blaming or shaming earlier generations. It’s about acknowledging and celebrating a unique turning point in history, where a generation of people are starting to talk about mental health openly and publicly – and, therefore, normalising it.
Gabrielle’s dream is to talk herself out of a job. She wants talking about mental health to become so normal, so commonplace, that people ask – stigma, what stigma?
“Millennials are the first generation to come along and say, we’re going to do this differently. We’re going to talk openly and share treatment ideas and hopefully save lives. Because there’s less shame when we’re out in the open,” says Gabrielle.
And, with Gen Z following hot on the millennials’ footsteps, it looks like speaking out against stigma is very much here to stay.
Further reading: Find out how millennial employees are making workplaces radically rethink mental health in TIME Magazine.