Mental healthcare is going off-script.
What’s happening: NeuroKaire research polling 18K US adults found people with depression are turning to cannabis, weight-loss drugs, gaming, online communities, and wellness habits.
Club med. Dubbed the “Self-Medication Generation,” Americans are assembling personalized treatment stacks. While 52% of those with depression are Gen Z and millennials, cross-generational shared behaviors show traditional mental health pathways aren’t enough.
Substances. Half of depressed Gen Z adults use marijuana and 70% CBD for mental wellness — but, surprisingly, afflicted boomers use cannabis products ~70% more than their peers. With obesity and mental illness linked, depressed individuals are two-thirds more likely to be on GLP-1s and over 50% to use OTC weight loss supplements.
Screens. Two-thirds of Gen Z play video games for everyday coping, and 35% engage with online communities. But, they’re also unplugging, with a third using crafting as a therapeutic hobby, among other analog activities like gardening and reading.
Sunk cost. Distrustful of healthcare, afflicted millennials are doing their own research, with nearly half using AI to build their stacks. High agency, depressed Gen Z adults exercise and track calories more than their peers but still are 114% more likely to be overweight and are the most unhappy about their health.
Takeaway: From vibes and intuition to health data hyperfixation, younger cohorts are putting in the effort while older gens supplement the status quo — but with most alternative interventions becoming solitary activities, all are missing out on better outcomes.
