The Mental Health Factor Question

Executive summary

Young people are experiencing a mental health crisis of unprecedented scale. Rates of anxiety, depression, loneliness, and suicidal ideation among adolescents and young adults have risen dramatically, with the COVID-19 pandemic accelerating pre-existing trends. This crisis intersects directly with church retention: young people who experience mental health challenges in environments that are unsupportive, dismissive, or harmful are more likely to disengage. Conversely, a 2023 systematic review a...