Here are some sobering mental health statistics about kids and teens today:
- 4 in 10 adolescents (40%) report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.
- 2 in 10 adolescents (20%) have seriously considered attempting suicide, and nearly 10% attempted suicide (CDC, Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report 2023).[1]
- 1 in 7 teenagers will experience a mental disorder (World Health Organization).[2]
- Youth mental health hospitalizations increased by 124% from 2016 to 2022 (Clarify Health).[3]
- Teen girls are three times more likely to report symptoms of depression than teen boys (Pew Research).[4]
- Suicides are the second leading cause of death among adolescents. While adolescent males have higher suicide rate than female (8.1 vs. 3.8 per 100,000 in 2022), females report higher rates of suicidal thoughts and attempts (KFF).[5]
- 50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24 (National Library of Medicine).[6]
As someone who has dedicated her life to ministering to kids and students, these statistics are deeply alarming. More than that, they confirm what I am seeing up close in my own community. I have attended three funerals for young people who have died by self-harm in the past two years, two of them teenage boys. At one local high school, four students took their lives within a two-year span.
The Painful Truth: Mental Health in Boys
Stories like these are far too common. As I sit with this reality, I can’t help but wonder where the church may have missed opportunities to better equip and minister to kids, teens, and families to navigate mental health challenges. Parents are voicing increasing concern about their children’s mental health. And while the data shows higher reported rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation among girls, I am actually hearing more worry and concern from parents of boys.
As stated above, teen girls are more likely to report their symptoms, but that does not mean boys are struggling less. Often, it means they are struggling silently. According to The State of Gender Equality for US Adolescents study by PLAN International, one-third of boys report feeling that society expects them to “hide or suppress their feelings when they feel sad or scared.”
While the data shows higher reported rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation among girls, I am actually hearing more worry and concern from parents of boys.
Additionally, 33% of boys feel pressure to be physically strong, retaliate when provoked, and dominate or be in charge of others. This perceived cultural expectation leaves many boys without the language, permission, or safe spaces to process their mental health challenges.
Mental Health in Boys (and Girls) Matters
Addressing mental health is important because God cares about our mental health. God is not only concerned with our spiritual lives—He cares about our holistic wellbeing. Kids and teens need to know that God cares about their fears, anxieties, and worries. We often tell them to “cast their anxieties on Him (1 Peter 5:7) and to bring their worries to God in prayer (Philippians 4:6-7).
Yet too often, we stop there.
We are not always as intentional about journeying with kids and teens as they navigate life in this broken world. They need more than verses. They need tools, relationships, and guidance to help them navigate mental health challenges when they arise. Because lifelong mental health challenges begin in early teens, childhood is a critical season for prevention and formation.
66 Short Bible Verses Perfect for Kids to Memorize
66 Short Bible Verses Perfect for Kids to Memorize
66 Short Bible Verses Perfect for Kids to Memorize
Seeing and Knowing One Another: 6 Ways to Help Boys’ Mental Health
Knowing Your Students: Get a Database
In our ministry, one of our goals is for every child to be seen and known. I’ll admit that this is challenging as many families are not regular church attenders. Some children come once every few months, and it’s easy for time to pass without their absence being noticed. I believe church isn’t a priority when they haven’t found community. One rule of thumb is, if we haven’t seen a child in two months, we reach out to them to let them know they’re missed. A church database is a great tool for this.
While we can’t guarantee that no one will fall through the cracks, we can put systema in place that helps us care well.
Have Men in Your Ministry
We’re also very intentional about having godly men serving alongside women in kids’ ministry. Children’s ministry has often been seen as a space primarily for women. And while there are many incredible women leaders, boys especially also need to see men who love Jesus.
We are intentional about having male leaders that are willing to be silly, show emotions, listen well, and pray with them. We want all kids to know that their church is a safe place to talk. We prepare and train our volunteers to navigate hard conversations, and we communicate with parents when we notice concerning behaviors or patterns.
Make It Okay to Bring Emotions
I recently heard a podcast reference Walter Breuggemann’s The Message of the Psalms, where he emphasizes that the Psalms invite us to bring our full range of emotions—including lament, frustration, and grief—to God in prayer. Many people believe suffering, sorrow, or disappointment directed toward God reflects a lack of faith. But the Bible includes an entire book called Lamentations.
The podcaster explained Brueggemann’s point this way: if this emotion—anger, sorrow, and disappointment—isn’t directed at God, it will be directed toward others; and it will come out sideways if it’s not given permission within the covenant understanding of who Jesus is and what He has done.
We need to help kids understand that we can go to God with all our emotions, even the negative ones. They need confidence that God, and adults in their lives, will meet them where they are and journey with them. This is especially important for boys, who often struggle to express their emotions.
Pursue Relationship with Parents
As a family ministries leader, I make it very clear to parents that we’re here to partner, support, and equip them however we can. We regularly provide resources and host workshops on various topics. And while I can’t connect with every parent, I pursue relationships with those who seem to be struggling, often over coffee or a meal. My heart is to foster relationship and trust, so they are more likely to share honestly, ask for prayer, and seek guidance.
“When students have tools to help them lean on their relationship with God in the midst of their mental health, they care for themselves like Jesus cares for them.”
Laura Atwater Holliday from Fuller Youth Institute
Give Referrals for Mental Health Help
Oftentimes, I have more questions than answers. I’m keenly aware that some of the anxiety and depression kids are experiencing is beyond the help I can offer. That’s why I have a referral list of trusted mental health professionals. Having this list has come in handy on many occasions as situations can arise unexpectedly. When needed, I can connect the families with professionals who are better equipped to help.
Cling to Hope
Laura Atwater Holliday from Fuller Youth Institute says it well: “When students have tools to help them lean on their relationship with God in the midst of their mental health, they care for themselves like Jesus cares for them.”
This is the hope we cling to and the calling we carry as ministry leaders.
[1] https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-youth/mental-health/index.html#:~:text=Adolescent%20mental%20health%20continues%20to,10%20(9%25)%20attempted%20suicide.
[2] https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health
[3] https://clarifyhealth.com/insights/institute/briefs/the-kids-are-not-alright-2023/
[4] https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2025/04/22/teens-social-media-and-mental-health/#:~:text=Teens%27%20views%2C%20by%20gender,about%20their%20own%20mental%20health.
[5] https://www.kff.org/mental-health/recent-trends-in-mental-health-and-substance-use-concerns-among-adolescents/
