I believe giving your children a faith in God is one of the greatest gifts you can give them. When it comes to parenting, start with a faith foundation. That must come first before everything else can fall into place. You may not agree, but with the rise of anxiety and depression in kids today, this is more important than ever.

I’ve written frequently about the state of mental health in our children and teens over the last year. The numbers are staggering. Between 2007 and 2015, suicide rates for girls age 15-19 doubled. Statistics show that in 2016, more than three million adolescents had a major depressive episode. Researchers are drawing a strong connection between social media use and mental health issues in kids today.

All of this can make a parent feel helpless, but trust me, parents, you are not. Yes, social media is a big problem that you cannot solve on your own, but you have an even greater tool at your disposal. You can teach your child to have faith in something greater than himself.

Research has proven that having a religious faith is incredibly effective at preventing and treating mental illness:

• Spiritual practices like meditation…