div style="background-color: #efefef; padding: 25px;"h3 style="margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 15px; color: #d03037;"At a Glance/h3ul> li style="font-weight: 400;" ariaLevel="1"A quiet crisis: Parents today are overwhelmed—not only by the pressures of raising teens facing mental health struggles, but by their own internal stress.  li style="font-weight: 400;" ariaLevel="1"Why it matters: Parents are the first line of support for teens, but many lack the tools, time or emotional strength to navigate mental health challenges well. The Church can play a pivotal role in equipping caregivers li style="font-weight: 400;" ariaLevel="1"The leadership challenge: Caring for teens means supporting their parents, too. Leaders must design ministry that equips the whole family—not just the next generation.

Experts say that teenagers and young adults are experiencing a crisis of mental health. Gen Z is coming of age in a uniquely stressful and emotionally complex time—and the numbers bear it out: Gen Z is more likely to report negative mental health outcomes than any other generation. 

The pattern is consistent: The younger the generation, the more likely they are to report negative emotional experiences. Gen Z stands out, with nearly two in five (39%) saying they frequently feel uncertain about the future or anxious about important decisions. Roughly one in three (29%) reports feeling lonely on a regular basis, and one in four (26%) often feels isolated.

While older generations report much lower levels of these emotions, that contrast may reflect more than just differing life experiences—it may also point to generational differences in emotional awareness and language. Today’s young people are more attuned to their inner world and more willing to name their mental health challenges.