Mental health is central to everyone’s well-being and this includes children, youth and young adults. For a young person with symptoms of a mental disorder, early intervention and treatment is critical. Common mental health disorders in adolescents include: anxiety, depression, eating disorders, suicidality, substance use disorder, and others. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1 in 5 adolescents are currently struggling with a serious mental health disorder. Helping youth to actively engage in relationship with God and engagement in worship, spiritual practices, youth group and other faith formation activities can be integral components in helping youth to develop positive mental health skills, including coping, resilience and good judgement.
In this course, we will look at some of the common mental health issues youth are dealing with today and the role that churches, the youth group and youth leader can play in helping adolescents deal with these issues. This is designed such that each section may be completed in one gathering. If every section were to be completed, with the group meeting weekly, this course would take seven weeks to complete. It is also possible to complete the course in a shorter period of time by combining sections based on your team’s availability. Similarly, it could be expanded, and the focal Scripture passages—merely used here as a discussion starter, and a backdrop for the youth ministry topics— could be used as a jumping off point for a whole Bible study for each gathering. We are hopeful that the person leading this effort will feel free to adapt what is provided to their particular community’s needs.
The information offered here is hardly exhaustive and there are many other important resources available on these topics for those working with youth and in ministry. We hope that this basic introduction, while not comprehensive, will be useful for you.
Please note, sections of this course are also included in the “Providing Pastoral Care” Course.