"No Future?" Why Gen Z Feels Doomed

The Dr. Phil Podcast

Dr. Phil McGraw

Mental Health, Self-improvement, Society & Culture, Education, Health & Fitness

4.4 • 13.2K Ratings

🗓️ 2 August 2025

⏱️ 28 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Dr. Phil unpacks Gen Z’s mental health crisis—crushed by debt, climate dread, and digital despair, is this generation truly doomed or just misdiagnosed?

Gen Z has been dubbed “Generation Doom”—but is that label fair or fatalistic? Dr. Phil sits down with young people who say they feel hopeless about their futures. From housing that’s out of reach and careers that feel like scams, to endless online toxicity and the looming climate crisis, many are questioning the point of even trying. Is this the result of economic, environmental, and psychological pressures or has society lost touch with what young people are truly facing? Dr. Phil explores the roots of this generational burnout and asks: Is there still a path forward, or has Gen Z already given up?

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Transcript

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0:00.0	An entire age group in crisis.
0:04.0	What's got you so negative?
0:06.0	It's scary to think about the future.
0:08.0	The amount of time that I work, it seems to just be enough to stay afloat.
0:12.0	Your approach is anger and frustration as opposed to working harder.
0:16.0	It's a lot easier to get all doomed and sad about everything. Is anybody in Gen Z going to make it?
0:22.6	It's just out of our control.
0:24.6	Oh, it's never out of your control.
0:26.6	Well, tonight, we are diving into a generational crisis.
0:38.3	Gen Z, who are currently 12 to 27 years old, have been branded with a chilling moniker,
0:47.3	Generation Doom.
0:49.3	But what's behind this Stark label?
0:52.3	What's leaving our youths drowning in a sea of despair?
0:57.0	The numbers are really shocking.
0:59.0	42% of Gen Z report constant sadness.
1:05.0	91% are stressed to what they call a breaking point.
1:11.3	Over half battle with clinical depression
1:14.0	with suicide being the second leading cause of death
1:18.4	for this group.
1:19.6	We've got an entire generation questioning
1:22.0	not just their futures,
1:23.6	but the very existence of the American dream.
	...

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