Gen Z and Mental Health: How the Church Can Become a Safe Haven
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When Chaos Is Rising
In a world obsessed with technology, news, and social media, are we really surprised that our mental states are crumbling? Unlike generations that came before us, Gen Z is experiencing unprecedented mental health struggles, including anxiety, depression, burnout, and loneliness, to name a few. Barna finds that more than 50% of all mental disorders show signs of symptoms by age fourteen and 75% by twenty-five. Yet, less than 20% seek or find help in the local church because they perceive judgment. According to the University of California, San Francisco, young adults (18-25) have the highest prevalence of any mental illness (AMI) (48%).
I barely remember the days before flip phones, iPads, and computer games, but I remember them. My days were spent running outside, creating imaginary friends, and cooking with my grandma. But this generation lacks most of these memories. From the beginning, their days were spent stuck behind screens, Chromebooks, and Google Classroom assignments. Chaos has been rising; we’ve just been too infatuated to notice.
Why does this matter for churches and campus ministries? From high levels of disengagement to spiritual searching and the need for authentic connection, it’s clear that young adults are searching for help but are left empty-handed. If we continue to add to the problem through judgment, misunderstanding, and being uninformed, will they ever find a solution? With 1 million leaving the Church every year, can we prevent Gen Z from becoming a truly faithless generation? The church and campus ministries have a unique opportunity to be safe havens and catalysts for healing, but it’s up to us to take action.
The Common Struggles We Share
According to PsychPlus, some of the most common struggles for Gen Z stem from this disconnect of being interconnected, yet disconnected in society. In combination with genetics, messy family upbringings, and life circumstances, it’s no wonder that anxiety and depression, loneliness and social isolation, burnout and performance pressure, and identity and existential questioning are at an all-time high. But, we also can’t solely blame technology—”Anxiety, depression, burnout, and loneliness have become common struggles for this generation, and it’s not just because they’re “too online” or “too sensitive” (as some might claim). Between academic pressure, job market uncertainties, social media overload, and the weight of world issues, Gen Z is navigating a mental health minefield like no generation before. A recent study found that over 40% of Gen Z report feeling persistently sad or hopeless, a staggering statistic that highlights the urgent need for change.”
While it’s not an extensive list of causes, PsychPlus agrees that social media and comparison culture, academic and career pressure, family instability or trauma, and distrust of institutions, including the church, certainly play a role. And this matters, because we as a Church are called to do and be better.