Struggling or Snowflakes? The Gen Z Mental Health Story

The Rest Is Politics

Thursday, 21 May 2026 - 21 minutes

Why has there been such an increase in young people diagnosed with mental health problems? Are Gen Z less resilient than older generations, or have they been seriously let down? Has therapy culture gone too far – or not far enough? Why are there so many young people doing absolutely nothing? Is it laziness, or something else?
This week, Vicky Spratt is joined by three guests: psychologist and expert in adolescent mental health, Dr Lucy Folkues, researcher and co-author of “inside the mind of a 16 year old”, Shuab Gamote and writer of “Girls, The Commodification of Everything” Freya India.

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Hosted by: Vicky Spratt

Producer: India Dunkley

Social Producer: Celine Charles

Video Editor: Josh Smith

Researcher: Olivia Taylor Hooper

Exec Producer: Tom Whiter