How to think about mental health from a Christian perspective

Mental health is a complex topic in need of serious and compassionate thought from a Christian perspective. The struggles many face with mental health are no longer private issues. Increased public awareness through articles and social media has reduced stigma associated with depression and anxiety, while fostering community support. Has the American culture, however, begun to normalize mental health symptoms as intrinsic to our identity? Rather than saying, “I have depression,” we have increasingly said, “Depression is who I am.”

Ironically, some individuals may use mental health diagnoses as a form of self expression or even as a defining personality trait. ¹ In some cases, people self-diagnose by Googling their symptoms or identifying with a story similar to their own. Social identification occurs as individuals view themselves through the lens of a social group. ² Another cultural effect on mental health is that it is overlooked in the name of busyness. Stress and poor health are frequently minimized as busyness is used to validate our worth and significance.³

So, how should Christians approach mental health? The Church has an opportunity to show the relevance of the gospel for mental health issues. The Bible is not a textbook on medical issues, but it offers knowledge for biblical discernment and wisdom that are needed for mental health.

The Label “Mental Disorder” from a Christian Perspective

Many of us are familiar with mental health issues because of personal experiences or loved ones. Anxiety. Panic attacks. Depression. Eating disorders. The list continues. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), over 1 in 5 United States adults experienced a mental illness in 2022, encompassing a wide range of symptoms. NIMH uses separate categories for any mental illness (AMI) and serious mental illness (SMI). Both AMI and SMI are defined as “a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder.” ⁴ Mental health also affects the Church, including pastors. A 2021 Lifeway Research survey found that 26% of U.S. Protestant pastors have struggled with some type of mental illness. Mental health is a topic that requires sensitivity, care, discernment, and biblical wisdom.

A clarification is needed on the language of mental disorder. Other terms such as “mental illness” or “psychological disorder” are used interchangeably. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) includes hundreds of mental disorders. The DSM describes symptoms that are associated with a disorder, but it does not explain the solutions. Christians can benefit from the DSM’s descriptive data, but it requires biblical discernment to interpret its findings and conclusions within a faith-based framework.

The term “mental disorder” suggests the issues are primarily mental. However, definitions by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the American Psychological Association (APA) emphasize that mental health involves emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It is simplistic to describe mental health or disorders as primarily a “mental” issue.

The Christian dialogue on mental health tends to be divisive, as different opinions exist regarding the usage of DSM labels. These labels provide language to describe common symptoms, but they are limited in conveying the complexities of each person’s struggles. Different opinions on labels should not invalidate the reality of symptoms that affect daily functioning. When someone confides about a mental health struggle, the priority is to show Jesus’ compassion and help them to find good care. Most likely, it was not easy to share this burden with someone, especially if the person is a pastor.

Cultural Engagement and Mental Health from a Christian perspective

As we should ask with any topic, how do we think Christianly about mental health? The human tendency is to place information into distinct categories for structure and order. In the realm of mental health, we might consider it as a counseling or psychology discipline and thereby exclude our spiritual nature. This perspective relegates our Christian faith to be tangentially relevant, if not totally irrelevant. For areas of life that don’t seem religious, Nancy Pearcey’s writings on the sacred/secular split challenge Christians to avoid this dichotomy. ⁵When we create a division between the sacred and secular, we confine God to parts of our life that are deemed spiritual, such as Sunday church, Bible study, prayer, or fellowship. Essentially, this mindset perpetuates the idea that God is not pertinent to problems that are considered psychological. Interpretation of problems is consequential as it affects decisions about treatments and methodologies.

Carl Henry, an intellectual leader in the evangelical movement, served as an example of cultural engagement without compromising biblical truths. Henry might not immediately come to mind when thinking about the Church and mental health, but he mentioned pastoral concerns as part of the Church’s influence in the world. He wrote,

Suppose a Christian under emotional stress walked into a Christian group. How could its members help him? Ordinary laymen should be able to minister to one another at least on an elementary level, through cell groups, for instance. And a church must find a way to put to work those to whom God has given counseling gifts, perhaps even using them to establish a clinic overseen by a specialist and offering help to those with somewhat more complex problems. All thoughtful help need not come from the pastor.⁶

Henry does not advocate for any particular counseling approach, but he recognizes the role of the Church to care for people with “emotional stress.” Another important point is that the pastor should not bear this weight alone. A church member can serve in ways that do not require a counseling degree. One application might be hospitality, spending time with people to encourage them in their faith. Another one might be sharing biblical truths to replace lies that the person believes about life or God. Church members with counseling training could assist those with more “complex problems.” Henry’s exhortation for churches in the 1980s offers timeless words for churches more than 40 years later.

A Christian’s Response to Mental Health

Our culture promotes messages that conflict with biblical teachings. For example, cultural exhortations to “love yourself more” can seem to encourage a self-centered, rather than God-centered focus for our lives. Calls for “positive thinking” which do not accord with the call in Romans 12:2 to renew our mind, run the risk of again setting our hearts and minds on objects unable to sustain them. Additionally, culture can tend to define an individual by a diagnosis. A diagnosis is not our identity; such a mentality can remove hope for change. Rather, our identity is in Christ. Struggling with mental health symptoms is not sinful, but how we respond should reflect our identity in Christ as new creations (2 Cor. 5:17).

Some Christians might claim that “real” Christians don’t struggle with anxiety or depression. The Christian life, however, includes despair, fear, and discouragement. The Bible describes symptoms that are used in modern diagnoses of mental disorders. The book of Psalms expresses vivid emotions and thoughts that are too relatable to ignore (“I say to God, my rock: ‘Why have you forgotten me?’” in Psa. 42:9). We have examples of being mistreated by those more powerful (e.g., Joseph, Hagar) and even betrayed by one’s own son (David and Absalom). We read about fear of man in contrast to fear of God (Prov. 29:25) and the dichotomy of trusting man or trusting God (Jer. 17:5). Passages on anxiety challenge our desire for control (“do not be anxious about your life” in Matt. 6:25; “do not be anxious about anything” in Phil. 4:6). The purpose of listing these passages is to show that the Bible does speak to issues related to mental health. The Bible does not use modern labels such as “panic attack” or “obsessive compulsive disorder,” but it addresses many of the symptoms associated with these labels. This does not mean we should merely quote Bible passages as a quick fix or to convince people to stop taking their medications. Biblical support should complement, not replace, professional medical advice. Seek advice from Christian medical practitioners if needed.

We must respond with kindness when someone shares about their anxiety, depression, or other struggles, asking about ways that we can encourage them and assist with their needs. If we don’t know what to say, we can simply thank them for their honesty, pray for them, and seek counsel from someone with experience.

Theological Anthropology and a Christian’s Perspective on Mental Health

From a Christian perspective, mental health pertains to the doctrine of man. A biblical view of human nature counters cultural tendencies to externalize blame, emphasizing the heart’s role in thoughts, emotions, and desires. The Bible often speaks of heart (or soul) in reference to thoughts (Psa. 139:23), emotions (Psa. 39:3), desires (Matt. 6:21), and will (Ex. 25:2). Notice that these are aspects of human nature that are typically considered nonspiritual when addressing mental health.

While the world often emphasizes physical well-being, Scripture portrays humans as embodied souls, where both body and soul require care. Churches tend to emphasize spiritual disciplines in relation to the soul, neglecting those related to the body. Self-control, discipline, and rest are both physical and spiritual issues. Consider food, exercise, and sleep. Exercise and a healthy diet have a positive effect on our health, including depression and anxiety. Sleep experts say that the average adult needs around 8 hours of sleep, which affects our energy, memories, thoughts, and emotions. Another example is Sabbath rest. We should not feel guilty for seeking sleep or rest, as caring for the body is part of holistic care.

Our body and soul are not without problems. Sometimes, we suffer because of our fallen bodies or sinful choices, whether those choices are ours or those of people who sin against us. We live in a fallen world filled with sinful people. We know, however, eternal hope that sustains us through times of darkness. The Psalms repeatedly emphasize that our hope is in God, even when we despair. Biblical hope does not promise immediate relief, but it shifts our source of hope from our circumstances to our God who cares for us and comforts us. He will judge each person, including us, perfectly.

God can use our sufferings as part of our sanctification. According to the Baptist Faith & Message (2000), “Sanctification is the experience, beginning in regeneration, by which the believer is set apart to God’s purposes, and is enabled to progress toward moral and spiritual maturity through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit dwelling in him. Growth in grace should continue throughout the regenerate person’s life.” Suffering does not hinder the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit to conform us into the image of Christ. We see this example in the life of Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892). He is well-known for his sermons, but he suffered with physical pain as well as anxiety and depression. Spurgeon wrote, “We attempt to think of that which we fancy He will forget; we labour to take upon ourselves our weary burden, as if He were unable or unwilling to take it for us . . . Anxiety makes us doubt God’s lovingkindness, and thus our love to Him grows cold.” ⁷Spurgeon was transparent about his sufferings, but he consistently turned to God for strength.

The Church addressing Mental Health

Why should the Church address mental health? While counselors are experts in the subject, the Church offers spiritual family and accountability that no other group can replicate. None of us were created to be alone. Social media might provide groups to join, but it cannot replace fellowship and accountability. Young adults can support families by helping with errands or childcare, while older members offer wisdom and mentorship. They can also disciple teenagers, answering questions about life and peer pressure. A caring community can help prevent pastoral burnout, fostering resilience and shared burdens within the Church. Christ’s love might be expressed in these ways: “How can I pray for you?” “How can I help you?”

The goal of the Christian life is to worship God and become more like Christ. This reveals our beliefs about the gospel for every area of our life. When we suffer, our hope in God does not change. God knows us more than anyone in this world. In an increasingly hurting world of anger, anxiety, depression, and perhaps the desire to be known, the Church has an opportunity to shine brightly in a dark world, giving hope that endures forever through the gospel message. We must remember our hope in God.

“Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:23-26