Episode 76
RYM 076: What Can We Do About Student Anxiety As Youth Ministry Leaders?
Anxiety among middle school and high school students has been rising rapidly in recent years. In fact, anxiety disorders are now the most common mental illnesses among students, affecting about 25 percent of all teens—and these are just the reported cases. That’s why this week, we sit down with Licensed Professional Counselor, Kayla Lin, along with Sara Shelton and Marquise Cox, to talk about why student anxiety is on the rise and what we can do as youth leaders to walk with and support students struggling with anxiety right now.
Voices In This Episode
EPISODE RECAP
- What today’s statistics say about anxiety among students (1:21)
- What anxiety is and how it’s different from stress (3:05)
- What today’s podcast guests have seen among their students in terms of anxiety trends (6:09)
- What causes student anxiety (8:57)
- Why saying “Just get over it” diminishes a student’s experience (12:22)
- The difference between anxiety and depression (15:21)
- Why anxiety is increasing among students (17:19)
- The difference between a phase and a pattern with anxiety (19:45)
- How students cope with anxiety (20:28)
- How to tell the difference between a phase versus a deep response to anxiety (25:52)
- What responsibilities leaders have to address student anxiety issues (29:11)
- What a win looks like when leading students with anxiety (35:12)
- Resources available for leaders and parents (39:55)
QUOTES FROM THIS EPISODE
Anxiety tells us the constant lie that what is right now is not good enough. —Kayla Lin Click To TweetStress has a way of moving you forward. Anxiety is circular—it never really takes you anywhere. —Sara Shelton Click To TweetAs leaders, we have to be really careful with our words when students are vulnerable with us. In that moment, we have a lot of influence over the next step a student takes to cope and get help. —Sara Shelton Click To TweetAs ministry leaders, our goal is to create a place where students are okay with being real. —Marquise Cox Click To Tweet
RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE
Website: National Alliance on Mental Illness
Website: Georgia Crisis and Access Line
Resource: RYM 011: What To Do When A Student Self-Harms
Resource: RYM 012: Navigating Mental Health And Suicide In Your Ministry
Our student series about anxiety for middle schoolers and high schoolers are only available through our Winter 2019 season of curriculum. Not a subscriber yet? Visit GetOrangeFree.com to try our curriculum for FREE!
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