Struggling or Snowflakes? The Gen Z Mental Health Story

  • Podcast

  • 21 May 2026

  • Posted by Alastair Campbell

  • 0

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.


To hear the whole Gen Z series, sign up at therestispolitics.com

Get TRIP Plus for £20 for the year by using your student email address.



Instagram: ⁠@restispolitics⁠

Twitter: ⁠@restispolitics⁠

Email: ⁠therestispolitics@goalhanger.com⁠

__________

Hosted by: Vicky Spratt

Producer: India Dunkley

Social Producer: Celine Charles

Video Editor: Josh Smith

Researcher: Olivia Taylor Hooper

Exec Producer: Tom Whiter

Editorial Director: Emily Kent Smith

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Struggling or Snowflakes? The Gen Z Mental Health Story

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 go... Continue

21 May 2026

535. The Ebola Outbreak and the British Far-Right’s Next Move

Are Xi and Putin playing Trump? How serious is the new Ebola outbreak, especially after Trump's and Britain's severe cuts to international aid? With Tommy Robinson explicitly telling his supporters to... Continue

21 May 2026

534. Is Wes Streeting Trying to Sabotage Andy Burnham?

By re-igniting the Brexit debate, is Wes Streeting deliberately trying to sabotage Andy Burnham's chances in a Leave-voting area, or is he forcing Labour to finally confront reality? Does Hungary's ne... Continue

20 May 2026

Alastair Campbell’s diary: I doubted that Burnham had a ruthless streak. Not any more

If I had to put my life on it, I’d guess that he will be PM by Christmas... Continue

20 May 2026

189. Rahm Emanuel: China, Technology, and the Future of the Democratic Party

Will Rahm Emanuel run to be the next President of the United States? What were the underlying policy disagreements regarding West Bank settlements that led to Benjamin Netanyahu publicly attacking Rah... Continue

18 May 2026

533. Andy Burnham’s Big Gamble: Can He Beat Reform?

What is Alastair’s plea to Labour politicians, after this week’s turmoil? After Wes Streeting’s resignation from the cabinet, will he still run against the ‘King of the North’, Andy Burnham,... Continue

15 May 2026

532. The Trump-Xi Showdown and Putin’s Conscription Con

As Trump becomes the first American president to visit China in nearly a decade, will the summit bring any positive developments, or will it further deepen global disorder? Will Trump sacrifice Taiwan... Continue

13 May 2026

531. Starmer on the Brink: What Next?

As Starmer’s cabinet begin turning against him, how long can he cling on to power? By challenging Starmer without a clear plan for what comes next, are Labour MPs unleashing a chaos they cannot cont... Continue

12 May 2026