Students in today's world face mental health challenges that most adults never dealt with at that age. As youth leaders, we know the importance of helping students find solid, Biblical grounding in the midst of those struggles. We know that Jesus offers incredible hope for students, but as leaders it can be hard to point students in the right direction or find good resources when students are in the midst of the struggle. Here are some of our favorite mental health resources!
Serving Western PA and Eastern OH, Christian Counseling Associates offers mental health counseling for Individuals, Marriage and Family, Children and Adolescents.
The Jason Foundation, Inc. (JFI) is dedicated to the prevention of the “Silent Epidemic” of youth and young adult suicide through educational and awareness programs that equip young people, educators/youth workers and parents with the tools and resources to help identify and assist at-risk youth.
Visit their website or check out their faith based resources
The following resources are helpful guides and resources for leaders and parents to understand mental health issues facing students
The Fuller Youth Institute has a variety of resources on mental health for students and parents that can be accessed here.
Download Youth Ministry offers a guide created by youth leaders to help parents and leaders that can be accessed here.
The American Psychiatric Association offers a menthal health guide for faith leaders that can be accessed here.
Often times, students need to know that they have a safe space to process and talk about their mental health. Churches are the perfect places for that to happen and these curriculum resources are a great place for leaders to start!
This series offers encouragement for those who struggle with mental illness and a challenge for those who do not. For too long, the church has driven Christians with mental illness into hiding, making them feel like they were sinning. This series can help you break that stigma and empower students. It can be downloaded here.
While parents and church leaders may know when young people are hurting, they often aren't talking to one another about it. This curriculum is designed to help open channels of communication between young people, their friends, parents, and the church. It can be purchased here.
God uses people's mess and turns the into a message and He can turn your worst seasons around too. In this series, we bring taboo topics like suicide and mental health into the light allowing students to find freedom in Christ. It can be purchased here.
The death of a student by suicide is difficult. This small group lesson will offer hope to your students who are left dealing with challenging questions and give them a chance to share their own struggles. This resources can be purchased here.