EPCHE Bangalore Asst. Prof. Writes an Article Themed on Gen Z and Alpha's Mental Health Crisis in 2026

East Point College of Higher Education, Bangalore was established in the year 1999. EPCHE is approved by the AICTE. EPCHE, Bengaluru is affiliated with Bengaluru North University. M C Kavitha, Assistant Professor, Department of Management, East Point College of Higher Education, talks about the mental health crisis of Gen Z and Gen Alpha in the article below.

“Today the concept of technology and advanced AI has taken over the reality of today’s youth. Remarkable achievements have been done in the name of AI wherein reality is being slowly erased for the youth of today which has become a serious concern. Artificial intelligence is not a distant concept. Machines are replacing manual work and people are being sent home and replaced by AI. This has not only taken place in machine-related work but also related to customer service and personal one on one communication with humans to solve issues related to emotional wellbeing. While these advancements have made it more convenient and efficient, it has also created an unexpected issue which is the growing wave of anxiety, depression and loneliness among Gen Z and Gen Alpha.

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As they are constantly on the digital platforms, the youth of today have become very isolated and now personal communications have been replaced by interactions with AI assistants and virtual voices, creating a danger as they are being now advised by robotic voices sounding human and whose language becomes the reality than the parents and friends’ advices. This blurs reality and they start living in a virtual world while being physically present but completely absent with no emotions being displayed. Even when the outside world is happening, they become so engrossed with the virtual world and lose touch with reality.

Social expectations have also intensified. There is immense pressure to fit in, maintain a certain image and build social appearance being measured in terms of friendships, popularity and even relationships with the opposite gender. Those who fail to meet these unspoken standards are made to feel inadequate. Over time, this leads to anger, violent behaviour, depressed and feeling inferior and in some cases leading to self-harm.

What is particularly striking is that this issue is not for economically weaker sections of society. Many affected individuals come from financially well off background, educated families and also in appearance and status far superior. These students’ parents are of the elite crowd often mingling with high society and working hard to maintain the status quo. Though the material needs and the wellbeing, so called is maintained, these young adults from this criteria are the ones who lack the personal touch, excess exposure to finance, technology and land in the danger zone.

In earlier times, strong family and community networks acted as natural support systems. Cousins, Siblings and Neighbours played a significant role in shaping emotional resilience. Earlier the concept of people having a get together in terms of birthdays, celebrating together, neighbours just dropping in and talking the details they loved has become a distant concept. No one is aware of what is really going on in someone’s life tragically their own child or relatives. This has created a loneliness and is a disaster in the making.

Another drastic result is the comparison which acts a tool to not build confidence but to destroy the person’s self-worth. Social media creates the concept of everlasting beauty, standards and performance from unrealistic versions which is far removed from actual concept. Even the drinks which the models pose for , has been shown as being rinsed from their mouth after the shoot, the sad reality. Young individuals, exposed to these unrealistic standards, feel discontented and feel that they need to perform better which cannot happen as that is not reality but a false creation of the society created for commercial reasons and financial gain

The consequences are very dangerous. Rising cases of depression, anxiety and even self-harm among youth has led slowly to the extreme violent behaviour where they start entertaining the prevent behaviours as normal encouraged by the so-called AI World. These extremity leads to crimes being committed by highly educated individuals—people who seemingly had every advantage. So reality is education and financial stability will never guarantee emotional well-being.

Addressing this issue is that of the community not individuals any longer. Families must ensure rather that only providing financial support, emotional bonding to take over and give the support needed to stop this kind of disaster. Schools, Colleges, organizations and Societies must come forward to ensure prioritize mental well-being takes over and create a safe zone for youth to experience the beauty of living rather than unrealistic concepts which destroys them.

At an individual level, the youth of today needs to recognize using their intelligence what is reality and what is falsely claimed as the standards. To ensure validation comes from true communication and friendship created by bonding and treating families as the most needed to create a safe zone and happiness circle. Building real and genuine friendships rather that focusing on unhealthy comparisons. Also, to seek help the moment a feeling of helplessness creeps in are essential for facing this reality.

We cannot lose sight of what is real as we are humans who can bond only with real relationships. AI can support but can never replace human warmth. It becomes crucial to save the youth of today. True happiness is in using all the technology to enrich lives than going into a virtual world for Gen Z and Gen Alpha.”

Disclaimer: This content was distributed by EPCHE Bengaluru and has been published as part of the Careers360 marketing initiative.