Lack of religion linked to teen depression

Rising levels of depression and self-harm among teenagers are linked to the absence of religion in young people’s lives, a Catholic bishop’s adviser on religious education has claimed.

Fr Gerard Condon also said he believes society has, in many respects, tried to forget or hide God. While parents he meets at preparation meetings for their children’s First Communion or Confirmation are genuinely interested in the religion, they seem to have little knowledge about their faith.

“This is the age group who made The Da Vinci Code a bestseller, but can hardly number or name the gospels,” he said.