A new initiative in Virginia seeks to support families facing adolescent mental health challenges by combining education, community collaboration, and direct financial assistance to remove barriers to care.
“The key to success is connecting people in the community,” said Rev. Scott Bach-Hansen, a pastor at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Manassas, Va., who spearheaded the initiative. “Churches are in a great position to bring people together and to be a hub of information and resources,” he said. “This is part of what it means to be connectional across the United Methodist Church.”
The indicators for adolescent mental health are grim. According to 2025 data from the World Health Organization:
- One in seven 10-19-year-olds globally experience a mental disorder, accounting for 15% of the global burden of disease in this age group
- Depression, anxiety and behavioral disorders are among the leading causes of illness and disability among adolescents
- Suicide is the third leading cause of death among those aged 15–29 years old
Find a passionate voice
For Bach-Hansen and his family, the statistics were all too real. A member of his family suffered from an eating disorder, anxiety, and depression – all at the same time. They were hospitalized for several months, and when they finally got home, COVID significantly hampered any possible recovery. “They spent most of the time in their room,” he said. “I know what it’s like to come home from work and not know what you’re going to find. Self-harm was a real risk.”
For them, help finally came in the form of a buccal swab. During an online search, Bach-Hansen’s wife discovered a genetic testing company called GeneSight. The DNA test, which requires a doctor’s prescription, revealed that their family member's existing medication regimen leaned heavily into prescriptions that were not genetically well-suited to them. Armed with that knowledge, the family was able to get their medication adjusted and they are now thriving and on the verge of graduating from college. “It was almost an overnight change,” he said.
Collaborate across your community
Bach-Hansen leaned into his role as a pastor to bring people together for a series of listening sessions at local churches. He invited mental health professionals from local school districts, county crisis intervention teams, therapists, and law enforcement officers to share both a stage and their expertise. The genetic testing, he notes, is one part of a broader approach that includes raising awareness about the challenges faced by adolescents, and connecting professionals across the mental health spectrum with families in need, effectively creating provide wrap-around support for adolescents experiencing mental health challenges and crises.
Seek funding to support the work
Bach-Hansen needed funding for the initiative, so he reached out to the Northern Virginia District office of the Virginia Annual Conference, which granted $6,000 for a projected two-year project. So far, the funds have helped pay for listening sessions at three churches in the District, as well as providing genetic testing kits for families who might not otherwise be able to afford the approximately $300 price tag.
Reach audiences creatively and effectively
Herndon United Methodist Church in Herndon, Va. hosted one of the listening sessions. Business manager Julie Albanus helped promote the event across multiple channels, including social media, emails, the church website, and flyers distributed to local schools, mental health organizations, and community media outlets like the Patch. “They say people need to see something seven times before they take notice,” she said. “The communication piece is critical” to raising awareness, she said.
Jen Evans, the Director of Student Mental Health Services at Loudoun County Public Schools, was a presenter at two of the four events held so far. She said the faith-based community can be a real bridge to bring people together on a topic that still suffers from a lot of stigma. “People think, ‘not my kid,’” she said. “Parents don’t want to think it could happen to their child.”
Evans said it’s important to bring the message of mental health support to places where parents and families are already gathering, such as school events, athletic gatherings, and churches. “People are so busy, and they’re not going to volunteer to come to a mental health session, so go where they are.”
For Bach-Hansen, the adolescent mental health initiative is ministry in action. He hopes the effort can help pave the way for other initiatives in communities across the denomination. “If the Church truly seeks to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world,” he said, “it must also become a place where mental health can be discussed with honesty, compassion, and hope.”
For more information on DNA testing through GeneSight, visit https://genesight.com/. The testing is free for those on Medicare and Medicaid.
Rebeca Martinez Ervin has more than two decades of experience as a journalist and legal and nonprofit marketer. She is a lifelong United Methodist and native of San Antonio, Texas with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Anthropology from Harvard University and a Master’s in Theological Studies from the Iliff School of Theology. In her free time, Rebeca enjoys photography, writing, traveling abroad, and spending time with family. This resource was published November 12, 2026.