Today’s young people are anxious and depressed.
We don’t need to look far to see that our teenagers are hurting.
Anxiety and depression in particular are on the rise, dominating the ways young people talk about their generation. Seventy percent of teenagers in one recent study consider anxiety and depression a “major problem” among their generation. What’s more, popular media often elevate anxiety and depression in destructive ways. One report found that in the month following the launch of the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why (which culminates in a graphic suicide reenactment), teen suicide increased by an alarming rate of nearly 30 percent, a 19-year high.
We need to be more comfortable talking about mental health. In this series, we're tackling it head-on, as well as learning practical coping strategies that are rooted in Scripture, and building our faith in Christ through anxiety.
RESOURCES:
FAITH IN AN ANXIOUS WORLD
THE "DAILY REPLAY"
THE DAILY REPLAY
1. Become aware of God’s presence. Find a quiet place, away from distractions. Take several moments to breathe, relax, and invite God to be present with you.
2. Review the day with gratitude. What are the good things that have happened today? What can I give thanks for?
3. Pay attention to your emotions. What moments throughout my day have been difficult or tense? Where is God at work in the midst of my anxious moments? What might God—or anxiety—be trying to tell me?
4. Forgive, and ask for forgiveness. Who am I angry or frustrated with? Are there things I can forgive and let go in order to have peace? What would I like to be forgiven for?
5. Look toward tomorrow. How can tomorrow be different? What would I like to ask God to help me with?