10 Things to Leave Behind in 2025, and 5 Things to Build On in 2026

For Teens, Young Adults, and Professionals

The year 2025 surfaced more than a few mental health trends we’re ready to leave behind. At the same time, there’s also progress we’re so proud to see. 

Check out our recommendations for what to put in the rearview and what to nourish going forward. We’ve created a list for young people and one for professionals. 

10 Things Teens and Young Adults Can Leave Behind in 2025

Here are 10 trends from 2025 that threatened young people’s mental health and well-being, plus tip on how to let them go in 2026.

1. Replacing Real Connection with AI

2025 has been the year of AI. It’s integrated in all we do, with the goal of efficiency, help, and sometimes comfort. But it can never replace the empathy, regulation, and understanding that come from human connection and bonding. 

When stress hits, leaning primarily on AI can cause damage rather than promote healing. In fact, evidence shows that chatting with bots can increase isolation, create false realities, and influence behavior in unhealthy ways. Although it may provide short-term benefits by helping you walk through a problem, chatbots can increase the risk of mental health challenges and persuade people to take harmful actions.

Here’s how to minimize AI use and optimize IRL connections: 

• Message or call a friend you haven’t talked to in a while. 
• Find opportunities to connect that aren’t tied to tech, like a book club or volunteering. 
• Seek help from a professional for your or a loved one’s mental health challenges.

2. Getting Pulled into Rage-Bait and Doomscrolling

Algorithms and top content creators are more interested in engagement over wellness. So when you view a creator pouring excessive amounts of various foods onto a grill to make you disgusted, for example, and question, don’t engage, even though these feelings are strong because in reality, it’s built to be. 

Rage baiting is meant to trigger anger, which activates the body’s fight-or-flight response. Over time, with repeated exposure, this reaction can progress into hypervigilance and contribute to burnout. Paired with the dopamine release that comes with doomscrolling, ragebait can turn into a negative mental health spiral that’s hard to escape. Learn ways to defuse the impact of rage bait.

3. Mistaking Toxic Positivity for Optimism 

Seeking hope can be immensely healthy. Denying pain, troubles, and barriers is not. Toxic positivity pressures people “to look on the bright side,” before they’ve taken the time and space to process difficult emotions. Within close relationships, one person always offering a positive spin on something tough can feel disingenuous, and leave the person who’s struggling feeling unheard and unseen.

True resilience that stems from hope and growth also makes room for grief, anger, uncertainty, and other emotions, without rushing to fix them. Here are some things you can say to someone during hard times to acknowledge what they’re going through and offer support in ways that don’t dismiss their feelings. 

4. Feeling Pressure to Decode Every Meme or Trend 

The internet is a big place, and new jokes are always emerging. Give yourself permission to opt out—you don’t need to understand every slang term or viral joke to stay relevant. 

The anxiety and self-doubt about being cool, trendy, or timely isn’t worth the mental investment. Trying to decode what “skibidi toilet,” “6-7,” or “crashing out” means won’t add value to your life or relationships.

So instead of trying to make “fetch” happen, just go with the flow and permit yourself to skip the Google searches and Reddit deep-dives to decode every new trend. 

5. Using Mental Health Terms Casually

Our society is making huge strides in destigmatizing mental health topics. But with the growing awareness of terminology, diagnoses are being used as catchphrases, as in “I’m so OCD,” or “That gave me PTSD.” This casual usage can minimize the true struggles people with these disorders encounter daily. 

Let’s keep conversations about mental health going, but let’s pause on language that trivializes mental health disorders and the work people do to overcome distressing symptoms that significantly reduce their quality of life. Here are some common words and phrases to replace the inaccurate use of mental health terms: 

• Instead of saying OCD to mean tidy, say you’re particular or detail focused.
• Instead of using PTSD to describe a stressor, say you’re having a strong reaction.
• Instead of calling yourself bipolar to describe a mood change, say you’re having a mix of emotions, or your day has been up and down.

6. Oversharing in Unsafe Online Spaces 

Vulnerability can be powerful, but only in the right spaces and with trusted people. Whether it’s sharing a deeply personal story time or showing the proud moment of buying your first home, personal information can be used in ways that can negatively affect your future, digital footprint, and safety. 

When you update your profile with big news, you may feel like you’re just keeping your friends and family in the loop—but, ultimately, you can’t control who’s seeing it. And once something is published online, you can’t get it back. Though it may seem harmless to tag your location at a hip new restaurant or share what school you go to in your bio, scammers may be waiting to use it for their own benefit. 

7. Confusing Parasocial Bonds with Real Relationships

Feeling connected to influencers, creators, or public figures is common, especially for young people. Being a follower, subscriber, or fan can bring joy and a sense of belonging. But this one-sided relationship also has the potential to blur the lines of what’s real. 

These relationships can’t provide the mutual care, accountability, or emotional support that’s required in a healthy connection. When parasocial bonds are the main source of interaction, once the screen turns off or the video ends, loneliness can feel that much stronger. 

Read about the power of real-life friendships.

8. “Relaxing” with Multiple Screens 

Maybe you’ve heard the joke circling the internet about how we all need a show playing on the TV, a text conversation in our hand, and a video game loading to silence our inner thoughts. The truth is that constant tech stimulation hurts your mind rather than protecting your mental health. 

When you seek out multiple screens and types of media at one time, it trains your brain to stay fragmented rather than focused. Over time, being tuned into multiple “channels” all at once, almost all the time, can create anxiety, sleep problems, and burnout. Your mind needs moments of quiet so it can repair, rest, and recover. 

Here are some ways to take a break from technology and boost your well-being. 

9. Body Validation-Seeking Disguised as Style Content 

Expressing yourself through clothing can be a powerful part of one’s identity—but not when it’s about how your body looks. “Fit checks” (posting a video of an outfit and asking for feedback) can be fun and lighthearted. But sometimes these posts morph into validation-seeking behavior that’s less about fashion and more about body shape or size. 

The moment you feel that you need the comments, likes, and views in order to feel okay about your body, it’s time to take a break. From altered photo carousels to carefully posed videos, striving for the falsely perfect look can lead to poor self-esteem, anxiety, and unhealthy relationships with food or exercise. Your body doesn’t need to be content, and it doesn’t need to be rated or commented on to be worthy. 

10. Using Dating Apps as Entertainment 

Increasingly, young people are using dating apps as a source of entertainment. They’re matching with someone and chatting with them, but the moment the other person wants to cross the digital divide—like asking, “Do you want to get coffee this weekend?”—they run. 

Ghosting (disappearing from someone’s life without letting them know) is a common online experience. This pattern can erode empathy and emotional accountability over time, for both the ghoster and the ghostee. 

So before you swipe right, consider these questions: 

• What is my goal for being on a dating app? Always be clear with your matches about your intention, even if it’s just chatting with people. 
• Am I in a place to start a relationship? If you’re not in a place to go on a date or start a relationship, it might be time to delete the app. 
• Is there something I could do instead that I enjoy? If you’re not looking for a relationship, consider other activities that can benefit you, like going on a walk, reading a book, or finding a new club to join.

5 Things for Young People to Build On in 2026

Along with leaving things behind, young people can strengthen what’s working well for them. Here are five positive habits to build on in the coming year.

1. Creating and Sticking to Work Boundaries

Gen Z is reshaping the workplace by drawing a hard line between work time and downtime. Boomers may call them “lazy,” but the truth is that this generation understands how burnout and pressure can undermine mental health, and they’re not willing to sacrifice their well-being for work achievements. 

Here are some ways to establish boundaries with work:

• Don’t let work seep into the rest of your life: Set clear start and stop times for your workday to avoid letting work seep into personal time. 
• Establish limits on when and how you engage with work communications: Turn off notifications after work hours, clearly communicate your availability to coworkers, and resist the urge to respond immediately to non-urgent requests. 
• Get outside whenever you can: Aim to take walks, spend time outdoors during breaks, or sit in natural light when possible. If getting outside isn’t an option, stretching or doing breathing exercises indoors can make a difference. 

2. Drinking Less

It’s officially a trend: Young adults are consuming less alcohol. In a 2025 recent Gallup poll, only 50 percent of those aged 18–34 said they drink—a lower rate than both middle-aged and older adults. 

There are lots of good reasons to hop on this bandwagon. The negative consequences of young adult drinking include poor academic or work performance, mental and physical health problems, and a higher risk of developing an alcohol use disorder.

Here are 10 tips for drinking less in 2026.

3. Cutting Back on Social Media

As with alcohol consumption, young people are becoming increasingly aware of the negative consequences of another addictive habit: scrolling social media. While some are getting off the apps completely, others are simply limiting their usage. Here are a few ways to cut back on your social media use:

• Leave the phone behind: When you’re home, leave your phone in a different room sometimes, to avoid the pull to pick it up and check it. Try leaving it at home for short periods when you won’t need it, like taking a short walk or going out with someone who can field any important calls for you.
• Delete apps: Are there social media apps on your phone that don’t contribute to your happiness? If yes, consider deleting them. You can always add them back if you find you really miss them. 
• Build up your tolerance slowly: If you tend to check the apps obsessively, start small: Avoid looking at your feeds for 15 minutes. The next day, unplug for 30 minutes. Work up to a half day or even a full day every week when you stay away from digital media and social platforms. Or specify times on those days when you’ll use your phone, while keeping the rest of the day tech-free.

4. Talking About Mental Health 

When it comes to mental health literacy—the ability to identify signs and symptoms of mental health disorders and know where to seek help—younger generations are again leading the pack. Since the pandemic, they’ve been exposed to and participated in the larger conversation about mental health and treatment.

A 2025 Pew Research study found that about half of teens would be very comfortable talking with their parents about their mental health, and another 30 percent would be “somewhat” comfortable. The remaining 16 percent aren’t up for those discussions. And about 23 percent of young adults said they wouldn’t be comfortable talking with others about their mental health.

There’s clearly room to expand our collective comfort with this topic. To be part of this change, share your story in safe spaces where it’s not necessary to mask your challenges. If you’re the recipient of someone else’s story, offer nonjudgmental acceptance and gratitude for their trust.

5. Seeking Treatment

Along with talking about it, young people are also seeking support for their mental health. According to the American Psychological Association, 59 percent of young adults (18–34) have sought professional mental healthcare.

Of that number, however, only about 40 percent were able to access services. Two of the biggest obstacles were financial barriers and inability to find a provider that met their needs. 

Here are five ways young adults can access care right away:

1. If you are in crisis, call 911 or go to the emergency room of your local hospital. 
2. Take Mental Health America’s free online screening. After the screening, you will receive information, resources and tools to help you understand and improve your mental health.
3. Contact your insurance company to find out about coverage for mental healthcare and what treatment facilities they work with. 
4. Ask your primary care provider for a referral or a list of mental health providers in your area. Keep going down the list until you find a therapist who will take new clients and accepts your insurance. 
5. Contact Newport Healthcare. Our Admissions experts will help you determine what level of care may be appropriate for your or your loved one. They will also support you with the insurance verification process. We are dedicated to helping young people access treatment that will allow them to heal and thrive.

10 Things Professionals Can Leave Behind in 2025

Workplace anxiety spiked in 2025. We encourage mental health, medical, and school professionals to start the new year by setting aside these 10 negative ways of thinking.

1. Fears about AI

It’s natural to fear something new, especially when it comes to technology. But in an AI-driven workforce, those who resist could get left behind. Many professionals worry that AI threatens job security, privacy, and poses ethical concerns. 

AI isn’t going away, so educating yourself about its potential benefits in the workplace can improve your standing in your current role and make you more marketable if you’re seeking employment. You may learn that your thoughts about AI are based on fear and misconception. 

AI can help you improve efficiency and productivity by automating repetitive tasks. This allows you to focus on more strategic and creative aspects of your work and devote more time to those you serve. Pair up with a colleague who uses it regularly and learn how it has changed their work experience.

2. Perfectionism 

While there’s nothing wrong with striving for high standards, perfectionism can lead to negative outcomes at work and can significantly impact your mental health. And guess what? It can even make you less productive. Spending excessive amounts of time on tasks, worrying about minute details, slow down your progress and leads to missed deadlines.

Here are some other reasons to ditch perfectionism:

• The constant pressure to achieve perfection can lead to chronic stress, anxiety, and burnout. 
• Fearing failure can stifle creativity and innovation. 
• The desire to make the “perfect” decision can lead to “analysis paralysis”—becoming so overwhelmed by options that you struggle to make any decision at all.
• Perfectionists find it difficult to appreciate their accomplishments because they’re too focused on what they could have done differently.
• Perfectionism can contribute to burnout, which plagues 66 percent of Americans.

It’s time to embrace your imperfections! Accept that mistakes are a natural part of the learning process and that failure builds resilience. 

3. Self-Limiting Beliefs 

We all have doubts about our capabilities in certain areas of work. But self-limiting beliefs can hold you back not just in your career, but in life. 

The fear of failing or not meeting expectations can cause you to doubt your abilities, increase your work anxiety, and make you shy away from challenges or opportunities that could lead to growth. And, constantly comparing yourself to colleagues and focusing on others’ successes can make you believe you don’t measure up. 

The only comparisons you should make are to yourself. Take a moment to look at your past accomplishments and reflect on why they were a success and which of your skills led to a positive outcome. 

It also helps to challenge and reframe your current self-limiting beliefs. Every time you doubt yourself, stop and choose a new empowering belief (e.g., “I am a confident speaker,” or “I can take on new challenges.”)

4. Imposter Syndrome 

Have you ever felt like a fraud despite your education, skillset, and long list of accomplishments? You’re probably not alone in experiencing imposter syndrome, especially if you’re new to a career, or have moved into a more advanced role. Here are some ways to overcome those feelings:

• Reframe your thoughts: Challenge that negative self-talk and reframe those self-doubting thoughts. Instead of thinking, “I don’t belong here,” try to focus on all that you’ve achieved at this point in your career and the skills that got you to where you are.
• Embrace lifelong learning: Accept that no one knows everything and you always have something to learn. Embrace opportunities for growth (like our CE events) and view challenges as a chance to develop new skills and confidence rather than as tests of your worth.

5. Resistance to Change 

Change is tough, especially in the workplace. You feel like you’ve found your rhythm … and then along come new policies, systems, and structures. Mental health professionals in particular faced a lot of change last year, adapting to new standards, new documentation requirements, and shifts in how therapy is delivered. 

In the broader workforce, many are seeing a shift back to in-office work. According to Pew Research Center data, in-office requirements surged to 75 percent in late 2024, up from 63 percent in early 2023. 

“Change is the only constant,” observed ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus. It’s how we respond to change that makes all the difference. Here are some ways to face change head-on in 2026:

• Stay positive: Embrace change as an opportunity for growth and improvement rather than a setback.
• Be open-minded: Be willing to consider different perspectives and solutions.
• Enhance your skills: Invest in your professional development relevant to the changes, such as taking courses, attending workshops, or seeking mentorship.
• Seek support: Share your thoughts, ask questions, and seek clarification when needed. Perhaps there is room for negotiation or flexibility in new policies. 
• Be flexible: Be willing to adjust your work style and processes to align with new expectations and practices.

6. Overcommitting 

The post-pandemic demand for mental health services has strained the industry. More than 6,000 practitioners are needed nationwide to meet the current need. For existing workers, this means long hours and less time with family and friends. But overcommitting can impact your mental and physical health as well as the quality of care you provide. 

While working late can’t always be avoided, it’s important to carve out time for yourself and for your loved ones. Begin to set clear boundaries around work and prioritize self-care. Learn how AI can help you organize notes, transcribe and summarize meetings, and simplify other tasks to save time and brainpower. 

7. Isolation 

Mental health professionals can feel isolated at times. Heavy caseloads and administrative burdens can leave little time for colleagues to connect with each other. If you have a private practice, you may feel disconnected from others who are doing the same work. 

Isolation at work can lead to depression, anxiety, miscommunication among staff, and higher turnover. Mitigating isolation is essential for a healthy work environment and ensuring high-quality care. (We offer some tips for this later in the article.) 

8. Compassion Fatigue 

Caregivers are special people with a heart for giving. But carrying the weight of others’ traumas, working with difficult clients, and not leaving space for your own emotions can lead to compassion fatigue. 

If you are losing your ability to empathize with others, feel a sense of hopelessness, are angry or irritable, or just feel mentally exhausted, it’s time for a reset. Compassion fatigue can lead to burnout, anxiety, depression, and a range of physical health issues.

9. Always Having to Be Strong for Others

Helping professionals, such as teachers, counselors, and mental health providers, often feel pressured to be the “strong one” for the people around them even when they’re off the clock. If you’re suppressing your true emotions and putting up a front to make everyone else feel better, you’re carrying a heavy burden. 

It’s okay to be vulnerable and not to know the answers all the time—you’re human. Being authentic about how you feel and what you need can strengthen your relationships with family and friends, while protecting your own mental health.

10. Overlooking Your Own Mental Health

Remember the old saying about the shoemaker whose kids had holes in their shoes? It’s common for mental health providers to place their own therapy low on their list of priorities, whether due to time pressure, financial issues, or simply thinking they can use the tools they already know about.

Physicians are even less likely to seek mental healthcare, despite the high levels of secondary trauma and suicidal thoughts among this group. Some fear having a diagnosis and other information on their record. Doctors are trained to put emotions aside in order to care for patients in highly stressful situations, and it can be hard for them to tune into their emotions when they’re off duty.

But the more healing professionals seek their own support, the more they help destigmatize mental healthcare. By modeling self-care and prioritizing their own well-being, they encourage those around them to do the same. Taking care of themselves also supports them to take better care of those they serve.

5 Things Professionals Can Build On in 2026

Instead of making resolutions, consider committing to a gradual process of building positive habits that make work (and life) more relaxed and rewarding.

1. Maintaining Work Boundaries

It’s tough to unplug from work when people are depending on you, and it’s hard to be in the moment when difficult sessions or painful situations get stuck in your head. But establishing clear boundaries around work, and sticking to them as much as possible, will support your well-being and your relationships. Here are some ways to do that:

• Be clear about your working hours: Establish strict start and end times for work hours. Communicate them via email signatures or out-of-office notifications.
• Set expectations for communication: Clearly define how and when you can be reached. Specify preferred methods (e.g., secure messaging vs. phone) and when it’s okay for clients to contact you between sessions.
• Keep your office separate from your home: If you work from home, conduct sessions in a designated space, ideally a home office, rather than your living area. 
• Say no when you need to: Regularly assess your capacity and say no to new clients or additional projects when you’re near your limit. Keep a list of other trusted providers to refer clients to if you’re not able to take them on.

2. Creating a Professional Support System

To avoid isolation, cultivate a support network of colleagues working in the same field. Newport Healthcare is dedicated to creating these connections between professionals. When you connect with the Clinical Outreach Specialist in your area, you’ll have access to a network of other local providers, plus a schedule of regular in-person meet-ups where you can share resources and inspiration.

Our Clinical Outreach Specialists also provide support, at no charge, for mental health, medical, and school professionals seeking a higher level of care for clients. Here’s what we offer:

Finding the Right Treatment Option

• Help identify mental health resources for adolescents and young adults 
• Discuss the appropriate level of care for the specific case  

Ongoing Assistance

• Assist with treatment placement and admissions for ages 7–11, 12–18, and 18–35  
• Provide support in navigating the process of insurance verification 
• Serve as a resource for parents and caregivers who come to you for help and information

Support for Step-Down After Treatment

• Assist with discharge planning from residential treatment
• Provide referrals for outpatient programs in your area when appropriate 

3. Strengthening Self-Compassion

Healthcare providers are more likely than the general population to turn to unhealthy coping strategies, such as alcohol or substance use. And their chronic stress puts them at greater risk of health issues such as heart disease, fatigue, digestive and respiratory issues, insomnia, and mental health conditions.

Multiple studies have found that self-compassion can ameliorate these negative risk factors and reduce the risk of empathy fatigue. Self-compassion is proven to lower stress, depression, and anxiety and enhance optimism, happiness, and resilience. 

Read more about self-compassion and learn five ways to build yours.

4. Collaborating Within Your Company

If you work in a group practice, hospital, school, or another type of company or organization, build on the collaboration and communication you already have. Create peer support groups, engage in team-building activities, and schedule regular check-ins with supervisors and other team members. 

These things tend to go on the back burner when schedules are hectic, but they are critical in fostering engagement and renewing inspiration. 

5. Celebrating Your Wins

Celebrating your work wins, whether they’re major milestones or small daily achievements, can support your motivation and confidence. Here are some ways to recognize and savor all you do.

• Keep a “wins journal”: Write down your successes, what went well, and how you overcame challenges. Remember to refer back to the journal when you’re facing a tough case or a thorny problem.
• Pay it forward: Acknowledge the colleagues, family, or friends who helped you along the way. Write them a thank-you note—you don’t have to include details: “I recently had a big win at work and you were part of it. Your support with …. made a huge difference.”
• Savor the satisfaction: When you notice a “win”—maybe a breakthrough with a client or completing a certification course—take a moment to simply sit with it. Close your eyes, breathe, and soak in the positive emotions that come with your achievement. 
• Treat yourself: Rather than connecting specific wins to specific rewards, reward yourself every day, in little ways, for all you do. That might look like a 10-minute break with a book and coffee, sitting in the sunshine between sessions, or a phone call with your best friend when you’re having a tough morning. Be generous with yourself, just as you would with a client or loved one. You deserve it!

Sources

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PLoS One. 2017 Oct; 12(10): e0185781.

Clin Psychol Rev. 2012 Aug; 32(6): 545–52.

American Psychological Association

Gallup

Pew Research Center