Increased Demand and Burnout Strain Youth Mental Health Safety Net

(Photo credit: Dre Erwin Photography licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.)

One of the more lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic is how it has impacted youth mental health. From extended isolation to canceled rights of passage events to intensified anxiety, the pandemic has brought on a youth mental health crisis like none other in living memory for many in this country…and how best to approach and treat it has its own challenges.

News Director Shannon Young spoke with two guests who work on the issue and who will be speaking at an event this Sunday.

Reverend Sarah Lund is a Senior Pastor at First Congregational United Church of Christ of Indianapolis. She also serves on the National Staff of The United Church of Christ as the Minister for Disabilities and Mental Health Justice. Lund’s latest book is called Blessed Youth: Breaking the Silence About Mental Illness, Children, and Teens.