Younger adults are the highest users of mental health support services and account for almost double the usage of the next largest group, according to figures from RedArc.
Meanwhile, support for mental health remains important throughout the summer with anxiety and depression continuing to generate the greatest demand, according to Teledoc Health UK.
Generational divide
The data from the two service providers illustrate the importance and insight into the utilisation of mental health services.
Figures from RedArc showed Gen Z born between 1997 and 2012 sought mental health support at almost double the rate of Millennials born from 1981 to 1996.
This in turn far exceed demand from older generations.
Analysis of thousands of referrals from working-age people over the five years from 2021 to 2025 to the support service found 43% of Gen Z referrals were for mental health concerns, compared with just 22% for Millennials.
Gen X, born 1965 to 1980, had the next highest proportion of mental health referrals at 14%, followed by Baby Boomers born 1946 to 1964 at 9%.
The service noted that for Gen Z, while mental health may be seen as less taboo, this group deals with the pressures of social media, the long shadow of Covid and student debt.
It added that Millennials face challenges such as balancing careers with family life, while for Gen X, it is often managing the demands of caring for both children and ageing parents that can bear down heavily on their mental wellbeing.
For Baby Boomers, concerns can centre more around retirement, health and long-term financial security.
RedArc commercial consultant Christine Husbands said: “What stands out is the growing willingness among younger generations to talk about mental health concerns and seek support when they need it.
“That does not mean other generations are less affected or less in need of help, rather that Gen Z may feel more comfortable accessing support and discussing mental wellbeing.”
Key conditions
Anxiety and depression continue to dominate the reasons for calling mental health support services, including during the summer, figures from Teledoc Health UK show.
The provider noted that overall demand for mental health support fluctuated through the year, but anxiety and depression consistently accounted for 40-44% of calls every month, with no clear seasonal pattern.
Using data from all of 2025, the next five most common presentations were: bereavement and loss, relationship issues, stress, life events, and burnout.
Teledoc noted that together, these made up a further 40-45% of calls, again with little month-to-month change in their relative proportions.
As a result of this year-round demand while other conditions show seasonal dips, it highlighted the importance in being aware of mental health needs even during summer.
Stress showed the only seasonal signal, making up a slightly higher proportion of demand over the winter months – 10% to 11% compared to 7% to 8% in summer.
Teladoc Health UK chief medical officer David Griffiths said: “There’s a common assumption that mental health is a winter problem, that people struggle more once the clocks go back and recover by summer.
“While our data does show lower utilisation in the summer months, we can also see that these issues certainly don’t go away when the sun comes out.
“Anxiety and depression make up more than four in ten calls to our platform in every month we looked at, including August.
“The need for support doesn’t come and go with the seasons; it’s constant.”
Griffiths also highlighted Mental Health UK’s latest Burnout Report which found the proportion of UK adults experiencing high or extreme stress had held steady for three years running, and younger workers were particularly affected.
He added: “For employers, the message is the same one our data supports: don’t assume mental health support is only needed in winter, because for a lot of people, there is no happy period.”
