Bridging the Gap: What the Church Needs to Know About Mental Health

Feb 23

We’re in a state of mental health decline, and the church is not immune. There are so many reasons for this decline as of the last decade, but in general think social media, technology, sedentary lifestyles, and busy schedules. Our time in the history of the world does not have a monopoly on pain, and psychological suffering is not a new phenomenon, but we do face rather unique challenges (not greater, just different) that inevitably contribute to, and often exacerbate, our suffering. When it comes to mental illness, we need to be able to consider our struggles through both a Biblical and psychological lens–anything else would be a disservice to our human design. But how do we do this and what role does the church play in supporting Christians struggling in this way? The goal of this article is to provide a guide to critically thinking about what the church needs to know about mental illness, what the church needs to fight when it comes to Christians getting the help they need, and what the church can do about the massive problem facing us right now.

What the church needs to KNOW:

Mental illness does not indicate a spiritual deficit or a character defect. Much of the time, Christians with mental illness love God, serve in the church, and cling to their faith as a source of strength, just like other Christians. They have their own unique struggles, but often our response to them induces shame rather than fosters compassion.
People struggling with mental illness need more than just prayer and reading their Bibles. Don’t get us wrong–we believe right along with Oswald Chambers that “prayer IS the greater work.” And so we pray and we dive into the living and active Word of God with great fervor in the midst of pain and struggle. AND, we utilize all that God has given us to pursue healing and wholeness. So we need to love people right where they are, assure them that we are praying for and with them, and encourage them to pursue all treatment options. Our faith is not devoid of action!
Mental illness does not indicate a lack of faith. I love how John Piper addressed this when he said, speaking specifically of anxiety, “this does not mean that we are faithless, or that we will not make it to heaven. It means our faith is being attacked.” Some of the great theologians and founders of the faith we know, love, and read on a regular basis struggled with mental illness–among them C.S. Lewis, Charles Spurgeon, and Mother Theresa. Thankfully, God has a history of using broken, hurting people to accomplish His purposes. People struggling with mental illness can be some of the strongest individuals–because they have had to be. So we must not judge them, sequester them, or pity them. Rather, may we honor and respect them, and reach out in love and compassion as we both care for them in their pain and learn from them along the way.

What the church needs to FIGHT:

Stigma. Whether or not we want to believe it’s still there, we are here to tell you that it is alive and well and we see it every day in our clinical work. Even within the church, only 35% of people in a UK study reported that their churches were supportive when they experienced mental health challenges. And even when we are silent on this issue, it leaves room for uncertainty, misunderstanding, and stigma to grow. Silence can feel just as shaming as open condemnation. We must find our voices when it comes to mental health and find appropriate language to clearly communicate compassion and hope, no matter our experiences or struggles.
Lack of awareness/knowledge about mental illness. Pastors and lay leaders are in a unique position to be on the frontlines of pain and suffering, and this necessarily requires a knowledge base of various kinds of suffering that people routinely experience. Mental health can seem complicated and overwhelming, but this is exactly why we need to strive for a basic level of understanding–so that we can avoid the “deer in the headlights” response when we are faced with psychological suffering. Unfortunately, 91% of church leaders in the Kintsugi Hope Project study had received no training about mental health during their theological education. We are in no way saying pastors need to be mental health experts, but we must certainly move away from the other extreme. We need to know what we are dealing with in order to offer appropriate support.
Fear based responses. It is human nature to operate out of fear, even unintentionally. We may fear our culture or the medical community or psychology, and end up avoiding them altogether. And while we should always think critically about everything in our world, to operate out of fear often leaves us living with blinders on, trembling with fear even on the narrow path to glory. May it not be so, dear Christian! Our Lord who is good–slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love–will hold us fast to the end (Exodus 34:6; Psalm 139:10; 1 Peter 1:5). We of all people should not be trembling on our way–instead may we with confidence in and assurance of His sovereign kindness take hold of all that He has given us. Even as we take care in making informed decisions and offering wisdom to our brothers and sisters, may we also boldly step out in faith to utilize all that is at our disposal to pursue healing and wholeness as much as we can this side of eternity. The Lord is faithful to guide us every step of the way.

What the church needs to DO:

Stay informed. Pastors and lay leaders are on the frontlines of caring for those with mental health concerns–and rightly so! These men and women are working tirelessly to triage, counsel, mentor, and provide resources to those in their church body. But because of this, these important roles require an enormous amount of preparation, education, and ongoing training. It is imperative for these leaders to be able to effectively and appropriately respond to issues and situations present within the church. This can look like attending online or in-person trainings, reviewing current research, and consulting with and making appropriate referrals to trusted Christian mental health professionals in the local community.
Provide a safe place to belong–opportunities for community and connection. In this way, we not only serve as the hands and feet of Christ but we also combat the loneliness epidemic in our world today. We were made to live in community, but too often our 21st century American culture leaves us always striving but never satisfied, always connected but never truly known. The church has a unique opportunity to provide a safe place for people to be truly known and deeply loved. And therein lies one of the most significant protective factors for any human facing challenges, and especially for those struggling with mental illness.
Offer discipleship and/or pastoral counseling. There is simply no replacement for this vital part of a person’s growth and wellbeing. Sometimes this can even work as a preventative measure, but at the very lease should supplement any form of therapy, medication, or other psychological support. Discipleship and pastoral care is invaluable and irreplaceable, regardless, in the life of any Christian. Keep doing what you’re doing, AND keep in mind what other professionals may have to bring to the table.
Collaborate and consult with community professionals. Approaching mental health from only one dimension just doesn’t work. Just like taking appropriate medication while living on the street won’t serve a person well, so seeing a therapist without receiving spiritual support or seeing a pastor without receiving psychological support can leave some problems unaddressed. As Kay Warren states, “the church is a necessary part of holistic care, but it can’t do it all.” We need each other to care for our people well.

As always, here at DWELL, we want to communicate our heart for the church. Our goal is never to fight the church, but rather to lovingly equip it to be, in an even truer sense, the body of Christ. To do this, we must work together. We work to fulfill our own roles in relation to our unique areas of gifting and expertise, but we do it together. In collaboration. With the same goal in mind: to care well for those who are hurting in our midst, body, mind and soul. We would be honored and overjoyed to have you join us in bridging the gap, in creating a much-needed movement toward healing in our communities, in working together to bring about change for the glory of God and the good of our brothers and sisters.

Author: Kalie Moore, MA, LCMHC. Clinical Therapist. Co-Founder of Dwell Ministry, PC.

More Resources:

Christians and Counseling: Incompatible or Complementary? - DWELL

How to Support Those Struggling with Mental Health in the Church - DWELL

What Every Pastor Needs to Know about Mental Health and the Church - Kevin Van Lant, Biola University

Mental Health Friendly Church Research: Executive Summary - Kintsugi Hope Project

Mental Health and the Church - Kay Warren

Why the Church Must Address the Mental Health Crisis of the Next Generation - American Association of Christian Counselors

The Church and Mental Illness - Ed Stetzer, Church Leaders

Should Christians Go to Therapy? What Does the Bible Say? - Neami Tervil, Christian Mental Health Initiative

Necessary Conversations: The Church, Suicide, and Mental Health - Ed Stetzer, Church Leaders

Can Christians Go to Counseling? - Jeremy Smith, Church and Mental Health