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I recently moved back to my motherland, Australia, and over the Christmas break my husband and I took a long drive across two states to see friends and family. We drove from bustling Sydney and passed through hundreds of small towns. Many of these towns only had the basics\u2014a supermarket, fire station, church, and hotel\/pub. As we passed through one of these towns I thought, \u201cThe Sanctuary Youth Series<\/em> could be accessed here.\u201d Then we drove past a house on a farm and I thought, \u201cThe family who lives in that house could access it too.\u201d No matter the size of the town, the number of buildings or the resources they have, every town we drove through can access the youth series.\u00a0<\/p>\n This resource could be game-changing.\u00a0<\/p>\n We are in the midst of a youth mental health crisis1<\/sup> and we live in a time in which loneliness and social isolation are deemed a world health priority due to their adverse effects on mental and physical health.2<\/sup> Whether in the city facing long waitlists for healthcare, or in the countryside where there are no mental health professionals for miles, getting access to good mental health resources can be easier said than done. The good news is that the Church has much to offer. While professional support remains important, research consistently finds that strong social connections really matter when it comes to our mental health.3<\/sup><\/p>\n Often at the start of a new year, we reflect on the previous year. If you work with young people, I would guess that some of your highlights from last year were moments of connection. Whether it was shared laughter, the experience of being a trusted confidant, or seeing something click as you were teaching, connection keeps us going. One of my highlights of 2024 was experiencing several of these moments over the course of a week.\u00a0<\/p>\n Last January, the Sanctuary team filmed the youth discussions featured in the youth series. I was slightly nervous bringing together young people who didn\u2019t know one another and asking them to have a discussion\u2014while being filmed! Would it be awkward? Would they have much to say? Would they get along? But it worked out! These young people (who you\u2019ll meet in the films) listened and talked with one another for hours. They connected! Watching them gave me a concrete visual of what it will be like when groups around the world start going through the youth series. I witnessed honesty, empathy, insights, wisdom, and connection. This experience assured me that through The Sanctuary Youth Series<\/em>, young people will have the space and guidance to talk about mental health and faith with trusted adults.<\/p>\n To see an example of these connections and conversations, watch the trailer<\/a> for The Sanctuary Youth Series<\/em>.<\/p>\n