2025 DMEC Annual Conference: Beyond Leave - The Importance of Mental Health in the Workplace for Gen Z

In the early 2010s, mental health issues in the workplace surged, with significant increases in rates of anxiety, depression, self-harm, and suicide. The factors contributing to poor mental health differ from generation to generation, as do preferences for treatment and the willingness to seek help. This session will focus on Generation Z and the anticipated rise in mental health challenges within this demographic. We will examine how the profound changes in childhood experiences, particularly the emergence of a phone-based childhood, have disrupted children’s social and neurological development. As this generation begins to enter the workforce, employers will encounter higher rates of absenteeism and decreased productivity unless they develop tailored strategies to address the unique needs of this population. Attendees will come away with actionable steps that employers can take to mitigate the impact of mental health issues among this generation.