“What are our kids in mental health crisis saying about the church? In what ways does our theology and community help or harm our children’s mental wellness? ”
Pediatric mental health is one serious crisis facing the church today. According to SAMHSA approximately 1 in 5 children and youth have a diagnosable mental emotional or behavioral disorder. In our work as Pediatric Mental Health Chaplains we see this work firsthand. In our identity as Christian Pastors we know the church has valuable theological teachings and community practices which make a big difference supporting some of our kids. We also know that sometimes the church’s teachings and practices can be damaging to our kids or add further challenges to their overall health. In this project we would like to explore more deeply what kids are saying about their religious experiences to their mental health providers and prepare a feedback loop where we can share our report to local churches. We hope that this can encourage local churches to continue healthy religious practices while being mindful of some things that may be damaging or challenging to our kids.