Millennials, Mental Health, and How Comedy is Helping
If we’re completely honest, the holidays are a brief time of celebration often followed by a long period of discouragement. Activities of merriment abound for about a month, followed by months of bitter cold and a lack of established reason to celebrate. Furthermore, it seems as though the generations just coming of age now, Gens Y and Z, are experiencing mental health issues on a widespread scale, but have also been the most open about dealing with it and trying to do something about it.
In my mid-twenties, I am more aware of my emotional state than I have ever been. And many of my similar-age peers seem to be as well. I grew up in an environment where emotions of every kind were suppressed — so as to always be in check with the status quo — and often negative emotions were suppressed for so long that they would eventually come out dramatically and uncontrollably. It seemed like adults in my life classified children’s discontentment as uncalled-for and disgraceful, so when I began to experience severe anxiety in high school, I had no idea who to turn to for help with that. No one I knew was open about these kinds of things, so I did my best to act like I was always fine.
Blaming Baby Boomers and older generations for this stigma isn’t fair, though. They’re not a monolith we can just dismiss; the values they have are a product of the history they have experienced and of course they have all had different upbringings and hardships. I’d rather simply celebrate recent gains in authenticity and the Gen X/Y/Zers I’ve seen demonstrate this. And it’s been evident this year in many forms of popular entertainment, and in particular the world of comedy.
Comedian Hasan Minhaj has an incredible ability to inform and entertain audiences, including millennials in droves — and his political comedy show, Patriot Act, showcases this. In the first episode of the last cycle, he discussed mental health, and specifically the underreported issue of health insurance companies denying mental health coverage far more frequently than for physical health issues. As with physical health treatments, mental health treatments are far too expensive for most Americans to pay for out-of-pocket and the scarcity of practicing psychiatrists and those accepting new patients makes proper treatment impossible for many to obtain, the show reported.
Additionally, I marveled at the comedy specials Jenny Slate and Gary Gulman respectively released this fall. Slate’s quirky, intuitive persona drew me in and made her seem relatable in her Netflix hour Stage Fright. The most moving segment of her special, however, was her candid confession of the crippling anxiety she has endured throughout her life. In regard to her work as a comedian, she expresses her fear of failing to deliver something “worthy” to her audiences. She recalls receiving the advice to “just be herself” but replies, “Which version of myself?” This portion of the program provided hope to fellow comics and audiences alike, whether the formidable task of performing for an audience was their reality or not.
Gulman’s HBO comedy special, The Great Depresh, was actually centered on his severe struggle with depression throughout his life. His authenticity shown through his performance and encouraged all who could relate, but I also appreciated his reflection on silly moments in his life, like when a college football recruiter came to his home to meet with him and Gulman couldn’t help thinking that the “blankie” he still used was in the same room. He reflects that he was taught to be tough and unemotional, but keeping up that front was just extra work for someone who was struggling.
Finally, 2019 wrapped up with the release of John Mulaney’s newest comedy special, John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch, on Netflix December 24th. The program, comprised of sketches and songs by children and famous adult guests, is hilarious, relatable, and somewhat strange- yet impactful. The special concludes with a series of mini interviews of the cast, discussing their personal fears and some thoughts about death (in an upbeat way!), and the childlike, lighthearted tone was comical, refreshing, and heartwarming. Special guest André De Shields really seals the deal in the final statement of the special, reminding the viewer to value themselves and to realize their unique contribution to the world.
There is a current wave of popular comedians who are making a difference, not only in producing momentary, surface-level humor but also in displaying humility, honesty, and a desire to make people’s lives better. Their material has provided us with both an escape from our dark realities and direct confrontation with it, as well as calls to action to seek the help we need. In typical millennial fashion, I am working a temp job with no health insurance, so therapy has been difficult to find, but I am grateful for faithful friendships, comedians who are breaking the mold, and to be part of an authentic generation that really wants to make a difference.
