The figures, although shocking, are not the end: they are the starting point for action. Every time we listen, every time we accompany, we can stop a fall.
Photo: [link]Omar Ramadan[/link].
We face a worrying reality: emotional distress among young people has reached unprecedented levels.
According to the study ‘Mental health and inequality among young people in Spain’ (FAD Juventud), almost 48.9% of young people admitted to having had suicidal thoughts throughout 2023. In addition, 60% experienced psychological problems during the last year —and 17.4% suffered from them frequently— figures that have grown by more than 700% in children under 15 in just a few years.
In the Balearic Islands, where the situation is particularly critical, psychologist Gustavo Rodríguez warns that one in three minors self-harms and almost half suffer from mental health problems. He links this new epidemic to the early use of mobile devices and addictive social media, comparing them to narcotics:
‘The algorithms used by social media are highly addictive... they can be as addictive as drugs such as cocaine or heroin’
He adds a reflection that illustrates the chain of impact on families:
‘Mental health problems in minors can affect up to six people on average in the family environment’
Recent findings from the Rey Juan Carlos University (URJC) yielded shocking results: among Spanish adolescents aged 14 to 17, during the last year,
These data emerged accompanied by qualitative approaches that include the real voices of young people, and when they are part of excluded minorities, the indices reflect even greater vulnerability.
All of this data is cause for alarm shared by families, society, and the church, and although the data is harsh, it is an urgent call to listen. As a church, I insist, we share the concerns of the society in which God has commanded us to be a light. A young woman who participated in the study shared: ‘Sometimes I wonder if anyone feels me... if it's worth continuing.’ This is an alarm.
These types of testimonies reveal the hopelessness that many teenagers carry with them, often silent until it becomes unbearable. Behind every percentage, there is a real life that deserves a second chance.
What can we do? Between hope and our contradictions.
Normalising talk about mental health and open questions can make a difference. However, talking about suicide remains taboo, as it is still thought to promote suicidal behaviour.
Taking action against the indiscriminate use of networks and devices: it is essential to build safe spaces at home. My experience in my environment shows that the group of parents who establish some kind of parental control on mobile phones is still very small.
Only 44 % of minors with suicidal behaviour receive adequate psychological treatment. This means that more than half of minors do not receive any specialised psychological help. This is worrying.
The National Suicide Prevention Plan 2025–2027 in my country, Spain, promotes integrated measures: health, education, justice, media... with the aim of reducing suicides and addressing the grief of affected families. But public plans will not yield results without the involvement of the immediate community surrounding the minor.
The figures, although shocking, are not the end: they are the starting point for action. If a young person expresses pain, do not ignore it. As a secondary school teacher reflected:
‘Our protocols are useful for detection, but not for support; continuous intervention by specialists is needed’
Every time we listen, every time we accompany, we can stop a fall. Because behind those numbers are dreams, stories, futures that can still be written. We are not condemned by the data: we are called by it.
The Bible does not remain silent in the face of human suffering. Characters such as Elijah (1 Kings 19:4) and Job (Job 3:11) expressed a desire to no longer live, but God showed them care, nourishment, rest, and a renewed purpose. This teaches us that we should not minimise or overly spiritualise adolescent suffering, but rather welcome it with tenderness and truth.
Any one of us can be a factor of change in the life of one of these young people. Some actions we can take:
1. Listen without judging
James 1:19 exhorts us: ‘Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.’
Active listening is the first pastoral resource for parents: not responding with sermons, but with attentive silence, open questions, and a willingness to bear the child's pain.
2. Convey courage and dignity
Psalm 139:13-14 reminds us that every life is formed and loved by God:
‘You created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb... Your works are wonderful.’
Repeating and affirming these truths at home helps the adolescent counteract the voices of worthlessness or shame that often fuel suicidal thoughts.
3. Seek comprehensive help
In Proverbs 11:14 we read: ‘In the multitude of counsellors there is safety.’
This means that parents are not called to face these crises alone. The help of psychologists, doctors, and spiritual counsellors is part of God's care. Recognising the need for professional support is not a lack of faith, but an act of love.
4. Model a safe home
Ephesians 6:4 exhorts: ‘Do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.’
This involves correcting without violence, encouraging communication, showing affection, and setting healthy boundaries. Biblical discipline is never equated with abuse, but with firm and loving guidance.
5. Pray and create support networks
Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us to carry our burdens in prayer, and to do so in community. The family needs pastoral support, joint prayer and, when possible, networks of other believing families who offer rest, recreation and companionship.
Teen suicide is not only a clinical or social problem, but also a spiritual and family challenge. We, as a church, have a truly valuable opportunity, as Christian families can be a place of prevention and restoration when they embrace he command of Jesus: ‘Let the little children come to me’ (Mark 10:14).
The path is not easy, but it is possible. With love, listening, professional help, and the Word of God, a cry of despair can be transformed into a song of life.
Marcos Zapata, president of the Spanish Evangelical Alliance. In addition to his work as a pastor, he has been director of various youth centres of the regional government of Galicia, specialising in young people at risk, exclusion, and social conflict.
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