The Desecration of Hope: Reframing the Adolescent Mental Health Crisis

Course overview

Today, adolescents are not merely experiencing a mental health epidemic; they are facing a crisis of hopelessness. Despite more mental health services, highly trained professionals, and reduced stigma, nearly half of adolescents have a diagnosable disorder, and 15% report major depression. Psychologists, mental health professionals, medical personnel and ministry will explore how the erosion of developmental wellness anchors such as, spiritual practices, meaningful relationships, and purpose-driven living, which has left teens vulnerable to emotional distress. Drawing on Hope Theory research, participants will identify how hope and mental wellness influence each other and how hope can be cultivated as a skill shaped by early experiences and social support. Participants will examine strategies to assess adolescent wellness with rigor, apply existential and logotherapy approaches, and help young clients build both agency, belief in their ability to act toward goals, and pathways, strategies to overcome obstacles, during this critical developmental stage. Emphasis will be placed on integrating family, peer, and spiritual support to restore protective wellness anchors.