30 September 2026

Professor Peter Fonagy has just completed a review into mental health, ADHD and autism among young people. He declared that Generation Z was not a snowflake generation and concluded that it was ‘harder to be young’ today!

He said that the problem needed to be tackled across the whole of society. He blamed cuts in youth services over the past decade leading to fewer places for young people to mix and develop a sense of belonging.

‘We need to have opportunities for them to participate, because participating in things … maintains good mental health’. We have been good at providing warm spaces for older people. Why not belonging places for young people?

At the same time, there is increasing evidence to say that Generation Z is interested in religion. A recent set of interviews by Theos revealed several interesting things about their views.

Christianity was appealing because it offered an alternative to modern society. It was no longer the dominant force in society. The Gospel was counter-cultural and now the Church is too.

In addition, their first attendance at a service was facilitated through  a personal relationship. People didn’t try  to persuade them about the truth of Christianity. They were attracted by  ‘the qualities of love, joy, generosity and kindness that they embodied’.