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We are nearing the end of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, and one of the main focuses this year has been urging people to seek help when needed, as more efforts are being made to reduce the stigma around struggling with emotional wellness. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, "(M)ore than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness (59.3 million in 2022; 23.1% of the U.S. adult population)." The NIMH classifies mental health conditions into two categories: Any Mental Illness and Serious Mental Illness. AMI includes "mental, behavioral, or emotional (disorders)" while SMI severely inhibits a person's ability to carry out daily life responsibilities and activities. NIMH data show that AMI has steadily increased in the U.S., with adults 18 to 25 having "the highest prevalence." Millennials followed Gen Z in AMI rates. Those over 50, which includes Gen Xers and boomers, have the lowest AMI frequency. For SMI, young adults also led with the highest percentages.

When reading statistics from NIMH, I always think about the ongoing discussion of what is considered the current mental health crisis among Gen Z. As I have shared in other opinion pieces on Gen Z and mental health, I have gained significant insight into how young people are coping with mental issues from my English composition students. This past semester, those who chose to write about mental health focused on social media's effects on their generation's well-being. Most of them did not come across any new research findings, as they cited studies showing that constant online use contributes to loneliness and low self-esteem. One student, however, did mention the anxiety many Gen Zers are wrestling with due to worrying about their financial futures, which is noted by the Annie E. Casey Foundation as one of the "primary drivers" of Gen Z's worsening mental health. While worry itself does not indicate a person is suffering from a mental illness, it can lead to depression and despondency if a situation gets worse with no support.

As Gen Z continues to be at the center of mental health wellness discussions, one thing they are being commended for is that they are helping to push counseling in removing the stigma associated with people who are battling mental disorders. The fact that many Gen Zers are openly discussing their struggles with mental health therapists is a huge step, considering many of them have often had difficulty communicating in face-to-face settings due to primarily interacting online. With more young people opening up emotionally, one treatment that will benefit many of them is talk therapy, also referred to as psychotherapy, where a licensed professional helps them identify adverse behaviors and thought patterns.

Talk therapy is also being included in youth ministries in churches across the country. During Mental Health Awareness Month last year, Barna Research published an article titled "A Gospel for the Wounded," which shared how Christ Chapel Bible Church in Fort Worth, Texas, has a ministry called Soul Care that offers one-on-one counseling "by trained lay leaders who are equipped to engage with emotional, relational and spiritual wounds." Soul Care is the perfect title for this type of outreach because young people dealing with mental health issues are spiritually wounded. In the Barna article, Christ Chapel pastor Greg Cook stated, "Our hearts are sick, they need help, they need restoration." When our hearts feel sick, our souls are hurting. The Bible teaches that the soul houses our will and emotions, the entirety of our mind, so when our soul has a wound or a hole in it, it is troubled and greatly disturbed. I'm sure Cook and his staff have seen the soul cry of many young people who have reached out to them for guidance. In their talks, some encouraging scriptures that were probably mentioned are Psalm 62:5-6, which states that our soul has assurance in waiting for God because He is our "rock and (our) salvation" and "(our) defence." Another is 3 John 1:2, which says, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." The soul prospering here refers to being "strong in spirit." Gen Zers suffering from mental illnesses truly need spiritual strength and soul restoration as they face life challenges that seem overwhelming. Barna Research emphasized that these mental trials present "a unique opportunity for the church." Indeed, it is, as churches can extend talk therapy to introduce Gen Zers to Christ, the One who can make them whole.

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Dr. Jessica A. Johnson is a lecturer in the English department at Ohio State University's Lima campus. Email her at smojc.jj@gmail.com. Follow her on X: @JjSmojc. To find out more about Jessica Johnson and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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