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How anxiety has many Hong Kong Gen Zs in its grip, and the ways they are breaking free

  • Pressure to do well in school, career planning, or stress about living up to expectations are some of the many things making Gen Z anxious

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Anxiety is rife among Generation Z. Some of those from Hong Kong affected reveal how they have dealt with the condition, and helped others. Illustration: Davies Christian Surya
This is the second article in a six-part series on Gen Z and mental health, in which we look at some of the conditions they are experiencing, including anxiety, depression and eating disorders. We talk to Gen Zs who share their stories, and to experts for their advice on ways to recover and thrive.
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The latest Pixar Animation Studios film, Inside Out 2, sees its main human character, Riley, enter puberty and experience new emotions – represented, as in the first film, by animated characters.

One of these is Anxiety, whose main job is to protect her “from all things she cannot see”. Anxiety is constantly thinking 10 steps ahead, conjuring up any scenario that could go wrong – and taking measures to avoid it.

While other emotions come to terms with Anxiety being a normal and necessary feeling for Riley, the film hints at the consequences when Anxiety becomes so persistent and severe that she completely takes over Riley’s mind.

Anxiety, voiced by Maya Hawke, takes control in the animated movie Inside Out 2. Photo: Pixar/Disney/TNS
Anxiety, voiced by Maya Hawke, takes control in the animated movie Inside Out 2. Photo: Pixar/Disney/TNS

In real life, anxiety is the body’s response to stress and feelings of fear and dread. And in Hong Kong, Generation Z is experiencing more than its fair share of those.

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Minal Mahtani, the founder and chief executive of mental health charity OCD & Anxiety Support Hong Kong (OCDAHK), sees this at first hand in her work. The most recent survey by insurance company AXA of mind health and well-being, released in September 2023, showed that, among Gen Zs in Hong Kong, only one in 10 respondents said they were “flourishing”.
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