But why and how does faith matter for young BIPOC’s mental health, and what can faith leaders do to help? Race as a guiding light When asked about the kinds of things that support their mental health, over half of young BIPOC (58%) said that their faith matters. Further, young BIPOC report high levels of life satisfaction, agency, and self-esteem. Research in psychology shows that these experiences are associated with elevated levels of trauma symptoms, depression, anxiety, and suicidality.ĭespite these experiences, a new study from Springtide, Navigating Injustice: A Closer Look at Race, Faith & Mental Health, reveals that young BIPOC are flourishing mentally and emotionally at rates comparable to their White peers. In 2022, nearly half of young people (47%) told Springtide they were moderately or extremely depressed, 55% reported being moderately or extremely stressed, and 45% said they were moderately or extremely lonely.įor Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC hereafter), the mental health crisis is compounded by experiences of racial prejudice and discrimination. The latest data from Springtide Research Institute, where I work as Senior Research Associate, confirm these trends. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, national surveys showed major increases over the past decade in mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among young people. The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Children’s Hospital Association, and the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recently declared the mental health crisis among young people in the United States a national emergency.

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