Strengthening GenZ Mental Health (w/Stephanie Shackelford) Ep. 291
The Forgotten Podcast
The Forgotten Initiative
4.9 • 532 Ratings
🗓️ 30 March 2026
⏱️ 34 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In this episode of The Forgotten Podcast, Jami sits down with Dr. Stephanie Shackelford, a Senior Fellow at Barna Group, to talk about the power of relationships, purpose, and tech-free spaces for improving kids' mental health. Dr. Shackelford shares insights from her recent Barna report, Gen Z, Mental Health and Wellbeing.
Dr. Shackelford discusses the six themes identified in her research for supporting Gen Z mental health, including the critical need for tech-free spaces and consistent rhythms for connection. She explains that the youth mental health crisis, marked by skyrocketing anxiety and depression, correlates with the rise of smartphone availability between 2010 and 2015. Throughout the conversation, she offers practical advice for parents on setting boundaries, such as removing phones from bedrooms and dinner tables, and modeling healthy technology use.
This conversation reflects on how to cultivate purpose and meaning in Gen Z, arguing that focusing on purpose—using one's gifts to serve others—is more fulfilling than chasing happiness. This discussion highlights that half of Gen Z Christians value seeing Christianity promote good in the world more than knowing it is true. She emphasizes that in-person church attendance is a major buffer against poor mental health outcomes like suicide and depression, encouraging families to prioritize being contributors at church and cultivating a culture of service at home.
This episode is an encouraging reminder that when parents and caregivers approach these changes with a humble vision and start with small, actionable steps, they can foster deep connection and meaningful purpose for their children.
About the Guest
Dr. Stephanie Shackelford is a Senior Fellow at Barna Group. She has researched and written for nationwide research studies covering topics such as Gen Z, mental health, purpose, calling, and discipleship. She and her husband live on the campus of Eagle Ranch, a ministry for Families in Crisis.
In This Episode
- What defines Gen Z (ages 9-27)
- The six practical ideas from the Gen Z, Mental Health and Wellbeing report
- How the rise of smartphones is correlated with increased youth anxiety and depression
- Creating tech-free spaces and the benefits of being bored and connecting with nature
- The meaning of "thick community" and "embodied experiences" to combat loneliness
- Inviting Gen Z into a narrative of purpose and redemption rather than happiness
- The protective role of in-person church attendance against poor mental health
- Cultivating a culture of service and calling at home and in the community
Resources + Links
Learn more about The Forgotten Initiative
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Sharing the stories of the foster care community. This is The Forgotten podcast. |
| 0:06.0 | We see teens and youth just really getting sucked into this. Over third or on social media almost constantly. Over half are using their phones overnight. So they're checking social media and updates and messages between the hours of midnight and 5 a.m. So it's disrupting sleep and development. |
| 0:22.9 | And so what is needed really is just appropriate guardrails and limits to be put in place. |
| 0:33.8 | Hey, it's Jamie Cabe. |
| 0:35.6 | Welcome back to the Forgotten Podcast, where we are highlighting the stories of the people of foster care. |
| 0:41.9 | With every episode, our goal is to help you better understand the foster care community. |
| 0:47.1 | We want to bring you hope and encouragement in your journey and help you support the agency workers, foster parents, vulnerable adults, and children |
| 0:56.0 | in foster care right where you live. If you want to learn more about TFI, catch up on past |
| 1:02.2 | episodes, read engaging articles, or partner with us on mission with a gift of any amount, head |
| 1:09.2 | over to the forgotten initiative.org. |
| 1:12.5 | We are in this together. |
| 1:15.0 | Thank you for listening and engaging with us. |
| 1:17.7 | We love having you as part of our family. |
| 1:21.0 | Okay, it is time. |
| 1:23.1 | Let's do this. |
| 1:30.0 | Welcome to The Forgotten podcast where we are sharing the stories of the foster care community |
| 1:35.5 | and bringing hope and practical help to the foster parenting journey. |
| 1:41.9 | Dr. Stephanie Shackleford is here today with me. I'm so excited to talk with you, Stephanie. |
| 1:48.6 | I'm going to let our listeners hear a little bit about you before, though. Stephanie is a senior |
| 1:53.2 | fellow at Barnagroup, where she has researched and written for a variety of nationwide |
| 1:58.9 | research studies on Gen Z, mental health, purpose, calling, |
| 2:03.8 | and discipleship. |
... |
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