f Editorial

This editorial discusses notions of the ‘anxious generation’ and highlights the rising mental health crisis among today’s youth, driven by social media, gaming, increased drug use and parental overprotection. Suggested reasons leading to mental health problems are the decline of free play and the rise of smartphone use. It is suggested that adolescent mental well-being has suffered as face-to-face interactions diminish and digital immersion increases. Further highlighted are the consequences of over-supervised upbringing, suggesting young people need room to grow, explore and learn from failure. Nevertheless, Generation Z has shown resilience, proving their capabilities during crises, illustrating that despite the challenges they face, they should not be pathologized. Asserted is that integrating more art into education could foster resilience, emphasizing the importance of balanced, supportive approaches to youth development in today’s complex environment. The editorial introduces the current journal issue’s content, which covers a range of research projects, interviews and reviews.