Gen Z has grown up in a world where talking about mental health isn’t just encouraged—it’s a must.
However, that doesn’t mean everyone’s on board with the conversation. When older generations, especially boomers, respond to mental health struggles with dismissive or outdated comments, it can leave younger people feeling brushed off, belittled, or outright ignored. It’s not always meant to be hurtful, but that doesn’t make it any less damaging. These phrases might sound like casual remarks, but to someone struggling, they can sting in ways that go far beyond the surface.
1. “Back in my day, we just got on with it.”
This phrase might sound stoic, but it usually translates as: “We didn’t have time for emotions.” It’s often used to shut down conversations rather than understand them, painting mental health as a luxury rather than a real struggle. The implication is that resilience equals silence, and anything else is seen as weakness or indulgence.
But just because past generations didn’t talk about their emotional pain doesn’t mean it didn’t exist. Many people “got on with it” by suppressing things that later came out in other, sometimes destructive, ways. Gen Z isn’t weak for speaking up—they’re brave for breaking cycles.
2. “You’re just being dramatic.”
It’s a quick way to dismiss someone’s pain without actually listening to what they’re trying to express. This phrase makes people feel like they’re overreacting, when in reality they might be struggling just to keep going. It encourages people to bottle things up rather than ask for help.
Calling someone dramatic doesn’t help them regulate emotions—it teaches them that expressing emotion is wrong. And in the long run, that only feeds the cycle of silence and shame that Gen Z is actively trying to undo.
3. “You need to toughen up.”
There’s a difference between encouraging resilience and demanding emotional numbness. When someone says this, they’re usually uncomfortable with vulnerability, either their own or someone else’s. It creates a wall instead of building a bridge.
Real strength isn’t about pretending everything’s fine. It’s about acknowledging when things aren’t and finding ways to cope. Gen Z is redefining what toughness means, and it doesn’t involve suppressing pain or pretending to be okay for other people’s comfort.
4. “You’re too sensitive.”
This one has a way of lodging itself in your mind. Being told you’re “too sensitive” doesn’t just dismiss your emotions—it makes you question whether you’re allowed to feel them in the first place. It’s often used to gaslight someone out of standing up for themselves.
The thing is, sensitivity isn’t a flaw. It’s a sign of awareness, empathy, and depth. The world needs people who feel things deeply—it’s how change happens. Telling someone to stop feeling is a lazy way to avoid dealing with what their emotions might be pointing out.
5. “When I was your age, I already had a house and a family.”
It’s the classic comparison that completely ignores context. The world Gen Z inherited is wildly different from the one boomers grew up in—higher rent, stagnant wages, and fewer job guarantees mean that the old benchmarks just don’t apply anymore. What this phrase really does is weaponise success, as if it’s proof that Gen Z isn’t trying hard enough. But measuring someone else’s mental health or life progress by outdated economic standards just misses the point entirely.
6. “You kids have it so easy these days.”
Sure, there are conveniences now that didn’t exist before—smartphones, food delivery, online therapy. But having access to modern tools doesn’t mean life is emotionally easier. In fact, 24/7 connectivity, global crises, and relentless comparison can make it harder. This erases the mental pressure cooker that Gen Z lives in. Just because struggles look different doesn’t mean they’re less valid. Every generation has its weight—this one just carries it more openly.
7. “Hard work never killed anyone.”
This one tends to show up when someone talks about burnout or stress, as if the solution is to just push through. But burnout is real, and it doesn’t care how tough your work ethic is. Mental health isn’t about laziness—it’s about limits.
Ignoring signs of burnout because “that’s just life” is what leads to breakdowns later on. Hard work might be valuable, but so is rest. Gen Z is trying to create a balance that many older generations were never given, and that’s something to respect, not mock.
8. “You’re always on that phone—no wonder you’re depressed.”
Technology plays a role in mental health, sure. However, blaming every emotional struggle on phone use is a convenient oversimplification. It ignores deeper issues like isolation, anxiety, and trauma, and puts all the responsibility on the person scrolling. Gen Z isn’t unaware of tech’s downsides—they talk about it more than anyone. But using it to stay connected, informed, or entertained doesn’t make someone broken. There’s nuance, and this phrase tends to bulldoze right past it.
9. “You just need to get outside more.”
Fresh air can help, but it’s not a cure-all. Suggesting that a walk is all it takes to shake depression or anxiety isn’t just tone-deaf—it’s dismissive. It implies the person hasn’t already tried the simple solutions, or worse, that they’re not trying at all. Outdoor time can be part of a mental health routine, absolutely. But when someone’s struggling deeply, they need more than vitamin D. They need to feel believed, not brushed off with a “go for a walk” suggestion.
10. “You just want attention.”
This one’s particularly cruel because it paints asking for help as manipulative. It frames openness as a ploy, rather than a cry for support. In doing so, it silences the people who most need to speak up. Wanting to be seen, heard, and understood is not a flaw. It’s human. If someone’s behaviour is a little loud or messy, maybe it’s because they’re desperate to be taken seriously. Responding with compassion, not suspicion, changes everything.
11. “Everyone gets sad sometimes. You’ll get over it.”
This phrase suggests that serious mental health issues are just a rough patch. It fails to recognise the depth of depression or anxiety, treating them like passing moods rather than chronic struggles.
Yes, everyone gets sad, but not everyone stays stuck in that sadness, unsure how to get out. Gen Z isn’t asking to be pitied—they just want their pain to be seen for what it is. Not everyone can just “get over it,” and no one should be expected to without support.
12. “You don’t know what real problems are.”
This phrase sets up an unnecessary competition—like pain has to be ranked to be valid. However, comparing traumas or hardships never helps. It only discourages people from speaking up when they’re struggling. What someone else went through doesn’t cancel out what you’re going through now. Struggles are not a contest, and mental health is not something that can be measured by how much worse someone else had it.
13. “You’re just lazy.”
Motivation can disappear completely when you’re depressed. Tasks that once felt small can suddenly feel insurmountable. Labelling that as laziness shows a complete misunderstanding of how mental illness works. People don’t choose to lose motivation—they often feel ashamed by it. What helps isn’t judgement, it’s patience. Support someone’s efforts, however small, instead of assuming they’re just not trying hard enough.
14. “Stop overthinking everything.”
Anxiety isn’t something you can switch off like a light. People don’t overthink for fun. They do it because their brain won’t let them rest. Telling someone to “stop” only adds more pressure to an already overwhelmed mind. Instead of shutting it down, try asking what’s going through their head. Invite the conversation rather than dodging it. You’d be surprised how much easier it is to stop spiralling when someone’s willing to hold space without judgement.
15. “You’re always making excuses.”
It’s not always an excuse—it might be someone explaining their limitations. Dismissing these explanations as laziness or avoidance can crush confidence and make people feel like nothing they say will be taken seriously. Sometimes what sounds like an excuse is really just someone asking for understanding. Instead of accusing, try listening. You might realise there’s more going on beneath the surface than they know how to put into words.
16. “You just need to pray about it.”
Faith can be a powerful source of comfort, but using it as a one-size-fits-all fix can unintentionally shame people who need more practical help. It can suggest that their suffering is a moral failure, or that if they were just more spiritual, they’d be fine. Prayer can be part of someone’s healing, but it shouldn’t replace therapy, medication, or support systems. Telling someone to pray about it isn’t enough if they’re drowning. Sometimes, they need a lifeline—not a lecture.
