Leading a Church Through Mental Illness

As a pastor or leader, a challenge of leading a church community to be a healthy space for people walking in mental illness is that it doesn’t fit well into our culture that values a quick-fix approach to life. The reality is that the work of caring for one another’s mental health can be a long and arduous journey for a community. It’s natural to feel worn out or discouraged, wondering if the struggle is making any real difference.

Unfortunately, that can leave those walking through it feeling like the only alternative is to keep their struggles in the dark and to battle on their own.

How remarkable, then, when I think about the words one member of our church publicly shared in our worship gathering:

“For much of my life, I lived under the general belief that one day I would most likely commit suicide. This wasn’t something I was planning, in the sense that I didn’t have any particular day in mind, months or years in the future. Rather, I knew that at some point the reasons to live would no longer outweigh the reasons to die; the scales would tip, and that would be the end. Or to put it a different way, there would come a day when life would be so meaningless, so painful, so hopeless, and the reasons for living so few, that I would have no other choice.

“It’s important to understand that for many people who commit suicide, to them, in that moment, it seems like the only possible choice. Think of life as a house on fire, and you’re trapped inside, trying to put out the flames, or maybe just to live with it, but there comes a point when you can’t bear it any longer, the heat and the noise and the pain, and you have to find a way out; so you leave. You don’t know what’s waiting for you outside — maybe nothing — but anything is preferable to burning alive. This is the nature of despair.”

It was such a courageous moment of transparency. I’m sure it was personally impactful for this person to share.

But it didn’t just impact this one person. I remember sensing a tangible and powerful spirit of freedom move through the room. I imagine some had come from backgrounds where they were admonished to just pray more. Or that the remedy would simply be found in just believing the gospel more robustly. For people like that, they heard words being voiced aloud that they had never heard communicated in a church. And hope sprung forth.

It reminded me that a big step of healing and transformation is bringing what has for too long been kept hidden in darkness into the light of redemptive hope.

So even as we affirm there are no quick fixes when dealing with mental health issues, there are ways churches can help bring these struggles in the dark into a healing light of hope. It’s one of the reasons I try to normalize these discussions by sharing my own experiences of walking in better mental health.

Here are three practical ideas developed by leaders in my own community to help cultivate this kind of culture:

Encourage people to get the help they need
The sad reality is many people with mental illnesses go untreated because they don’t know where to find help until it’s too late. I’ve heard of many tragic situations where people believed they had to work on their mental health issues alone. But help is out there.

The local church is God’s chosen agent for bringing Christ’s redemption to the world. This doesn’t mean, however, that the church is intended to be the sole or primary caregiver in every situation.

We wouldn’t refer someone with a broken arm to seek treatment in the church. In the same way, don’t be afraid to direct people with mental illnesses to professionals who are equipped to provide appropriate treatment. Help is available, and people in our churches shouldn’t suffer needlessly.

One of the most helpful ways churches can work to remove stigmas in this area is to clearly communicate that mental illness isn’t something to be ashamed of— any more than any other illness. Communicate that in an emergency, if you or a loved one are feeling utterly lost or hopeless, don’t be afraid to call 911, or to go directly to an emergency department. There are also suicide crisis hotlines that can be lifesaving.

The more we can convey that help and resources are available both in and outside of the church, the greater the opportunity will be for people to receive the assistance they need — help that could be the difference between life and death. Especially as a leader, may we address these things openly and frequently.

Cultivate a caring community
Many people who face mental health issues find it challenging to find a safe space to share their struggles with others in the local church. This is because when they do open up, they’re given simple platitudes or empty, spiritual-sounding jargon that proves unhelpful. As a result, far too many people in our churches walk alone in their struggles.

However, people who have strong networks of relational support through their local church almost always do better than people who don’t have such communities of care. Walking together with those who face mental illnesses allows the church to be the church. Continually remind your people of the biblical mandate to be there for one another in times of both joy and struggle (Romans 12:15).

It takes time and patience to develop this kind of relational support in your church. In a small group setting, it may look like someone sharing her struggles every week but not experiencing noticeable change.

This can become frustrating for everyone involved but I think there’s value in just saying that openly. Equipping folk to recognize this healing path will often go longer than we think it should. A community who commits to care for one another over the long haul makes a significant impact. The two most essential things we can provide to people who walk in the darkness of mental illness is a willingness to listen and a deep commitment to love one another with sensitivity.

Offer reminders that God can be trusted
Some people may face mental illnesses all their lives. This doesn’t mean God isn’t at work or that practical helps aren’t available.

We should do all we can to direct our people to mental health resources that can make a significant difference in their lives. But even if our people are granted some relief, mental illness may continue to be a painful thorn they experience in their walk with Christ.

So when it comes to addressing and responding to mental illness, proclaim the kind of transformation that’s possible in Christ. But also remind your people that God doesn’t promise an absence of struggle in this life. Mental illness, like any other kind of illness, is evidence of a broken world. Because though I believe there is total transformation of joy possible in Christ, I don’t think that necessarily means we will not still struggle with mental illness or any other forms of suffering on this side of glory.

One of the best things our churches can help people to understand is that it doesn’t mean you’re a deficient Christian if you experience the deep anguish of mental illness. To the contrary, may it be a reminder that even in that valley, God will not leave or forsake his beloved. He can be trusted. He is even at work in our darkest spaces.

May we offer people the hope that our thorns don’t indicate the absence of God but rather an invitation to know the God who is steadfast with us in all situations. People who experience mental suffering are sometimes granted a deeper glimpse into the heart of Jesus who’s described in Scripture as “a man of sufferings” (Isaiah 53:3). Jesus is the Savior who’s familiar with sorrow and walked through darkness to be with his beloved.

That even as we suffer in the depths of despair, proclaim the good news of Jesus that as much as we might feel it’s on us alone, God promises He will be with you. And as God is with us, may we also commit to steadfastly walking that long road with one another to be his hands and feet for one another.

Please note that the content in this article is informational and for encouragement only and does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals. If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a crisis, please reach out immediately to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741. These services are free and confidential.

Dan Hyun serves as the BCM/D church partnership team leader. 

Feature Photo: Licensed Adobe Images