Mental Health Attitudes Among Gen Z Men Shape Workforce Trends
A new report from The Standard, Mental Health in the Workplace: Will Gen Z Men Shrink the Stigma?, explores whether the attitudes of Generation Z men could lead to greater acceptance of mental health leave for men of all ages. The headline finding is striking: one in five men ages 18–26 have taken leave to address their mental health challenges — a higher rate than any other generation in the workforce, and a possible signal of a broader cultural shift.
"Easy access to providers, employee assistance programs and benefits that help workers return to work, or even stay while they receive treatment, are ways to help meet the needs of your employees."
— Nathan Whiteley, VP of Absence and Disability Services, The StandardYounger Generations Are Leading the Way
The trend isn't confined to Gen Z. While 20% of Gen Z men take mental health leave, millennials follow at 14%, Generation X at 11%, and baby boomers at 6% — each generation more willing than the one before it. Another notable finding: Gen Z men and women are now taking mental health leave at the exact same rate, a departure from the longstanding pattern of women taking more leave, and a sign of how central wellbeing benefits have become to the workforce.
Neglecting mental health carries real costs. An employee's struggle can take a toll on wellbeing long before any leave is requested, and the impact spills over into attendance, productivity, and engagement. There is also a retention wrinkle unique to this group: a Gen Z man is 35% less likely to return to work than the women in his cohort — greater willingness to step away comes paired with a greater chance of not coming back.
"The workforce isn't waiting for employers to catch up. Gen Z men are already taking leave and signaling what support they expect — employers that treat mental health as a cultural issue, not a benefits checkbox, will have an edge."
— The Standard, Mental Health in the Workplace reportGen Z Men Could Be the Key to Change
Stigma still holds many men back from learning about or using the benefits available to them. Employers who want better mental health outcomes will have to confront the challenge of reaching men — and working with Gen Z men may offer useful insight into how, including what language resonates across other cohorts.
Accessibility matters too. Applying a mental health lens during the next benefits portfolio review may surface opportunities to strengthen support, from easier access to providers to programs that help employees stay engaged while receiving treatment. The findings draw on a 15-minute online survey of 5,000 participants aged 18 to 70, fielded in March 2025.
Gen Z men lead on leave. One in five men aged 18–26 has taken mental health leave — the highest rate of any generation in the workforce.
A generational gradient. Mental health leave rates step down by age: 20% Gen Z, 14% millennials, 11% Gen X, 6% boomers.
The gender gap is closing. Gen Z men and women now take mental health leave at the same rate, reversing the usual pattern.
Retention is the catch. Gen Z men are 35% less likely than women in their cohort to return to work after taking leave.
Culture beats checkboxes. Accessible benefits and treating mental health as a cultural priority give employers an edge in retention and engagement.