Millennials and Gen Z Face Rising Rates of Psychosis and Schizophrenia

Millennials and Gen Z may be at a greater risk of psychotic disorders like schizophrenia than older generations, a new study has revealed. More recent generations are being diagnosed with psychosis more often and at younger ages than people born earlier, researchers have reported in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. According to the study, newer cases of psychosis increased steadily by 60 per cent among those aged between 14 and 20 years, between 1997 and 2023. The rise began among those born in the 1980s and later, researchers said. “We don’t yet know what’s driving these changes, and it’s likely there isn’t a single explanation,” Dr Daniel Myran, lead researcher and research chair of family and community medicine at North York General

Hospital in Ontario, said in a news release. "Understanding what’s behind this trend will be critical to prevention and early support," he added.

Delusion and hallucinations

According to the study, researchers tracked the mental health of more than 12 million people born in Ontario between 1960 and 2009, of which more than 152,000 were diagnosed with a psychotic disorder. Researchers said those with these mental health issues typically experience delusions, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, They also get hallucinations - an experience involving the apparent perception of something not present, like voices telling them to do something or criticizing them.

The results of the study showed that rates of new cases increased over time, rising from 62.5 cases per 100,000 people in 1997 to 99.7 cases per 100,000 in 2023. These increases occurred among younger people, researchers said. The total number of those diagnosed with a psychotic disorder increased by nearly 38 per cent for those born in 1990 to 1994 compared to people born in the late 1970s. According to experts, those dealing with psychotic disorders tend to have many other health problems as well, and so are at increased risk of dying early. “Consequently, the observed trends raise important questions about possible causes and consequences of increasing numbers of psychotic disorder diagnoses,” Myran explained.Also read: 'Your Pain Is Normal', 'It's Just Stress': When Doctors Dismiss Symptoms But It's Not Just In Your Head

What is causing psychosis in Gen Z and millennials?

According to experts, there is a range of several reasons for the increase in psychosis among later generations, which includes high usage of drugs. “A leading possibility is substance use — including cannabis, stimulants, hallucinogens, and synthetic drugs,” Myran said. “The use of substances, especially earlier in life, is associated with the development and worsening of psychotic disorders, and substance use in Canada has risen over the past two decades.” According to experts, a high number of people in these generations would have also been exposed to negative childhood experiences, which could have led to trauma, along with more family stress and financial-related issues. It also simply might be that doctors have gotten better at detecting and diagnosing psychosis, researchers added.