When I was a teenager in the ’90s, Christian parents were concerned by the twin dangers of drugs and teen pregnancy. These days, you can add the challenges of homosexuality, gender dysphoria, and addiction to smartphones and social media.

As a parent of teens, I know what it’s like to live with these concerns. But one of the difficulties for youth that we easily miss is their mounting struggle with depression and anxiety.

Of course, rapid cultural changes regarding human sexuality alongside the rise of technology and constant media engagement contribute to the mental health crisis sweeping our nation. But what can Christian parents do for kids inundated by information and overwhelmed by emotional stress?

In “How to Help Teens Who Are Anxious and Depressed,” Jared Kennedy offers suggestions for protecting and supporting our children, for listening to them and understanding their pain. Because, as he observes, poor mental health and debilitating anxiety are at the heart of our kids’ struggles. These are issues Christian parents in the 2020s can’t afford to overlook.