From Under the Church Rug

Mental illness is a common reality even in the Christian community that can no longer be silenced.

So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them. (Matthew 4:24)

A survey by Lifeway Research indicated that most Protestant pastors rarely speak about mental health to their congregations. It’s an issue that some churches do not want to discuss. One that is cautiously and quickly swept and kept under the rug. But the church should be a safe place to turn for help when someone finds themselves in a mental health crisis. Click the link to see what that would look like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDCd7LZmOH4 .

What Should We Do?

The church must change its nearly nonexistent approach to mental illness in order to help their members, their communities, and to save lives. Talk openly about mental health. Include sermons on the topic. Provide information through research and personal experiences. Be available for nonjudgmental listening and positive feedback. Offer resources for the mentally ill and their family members to explore.

For those living with mental illness within the Christian community, finding support or guidance should not be a challenge but a comforting expectation. That's one of the reasons we are here. If you need help/support or know of someone who does start by connecting with us at https://www.facebook.com/mentalhealthymama/.

Guest Blogger

Gia Sullivan