Mental Game Monday

Mental Illness is not a FAITH problem.

This post may not be my most popular post.  That’s okay. It needs to be said.

I was at CrossFit the other day and one of my friends told me she read my blog about depression.

She said that it really hit home with her because she always felt that, in order for someone to “get over” depression, they needed to pray harder. She went on to say that it really opened her eyes because she didn’t really understand depression before.  I told her that I have struggled with depression and I, too didn’t understand how one could not “will” themselves out of it until I had it.

It has zero to do with your tenacity, determination, strength, or even faith.

It is something that is so hard to understand unless you or someone you know has had to walk through it.

I recently had an interview for a counseling internship position at a church. One of the questions they asked was my thoughts on mental health and the church. I intended on saying a few sentences in reply and moving on. Instead, I talked at length on the subject. It is something that I was unaware I felt strongly about. So…here goes.

The church and mental health.

Mental health is not a praying problem.
Mental health is not a faith issue.
Mental health is not a lack of closeness with God.
Mental health disorders; Depression, Anxiety, OCD, Bipolar, ADHD, Schizophrenia, Personality Disorders, PTSD, etc… are ALL diseases of the mind. They are caused by a number of different things. Some of which we are aware of such as, genetics and trauma. Other times, we aren’t sure exactly what exactly caused the illness.

Mental health disorders are NOT caused by an undisciplined prayer life.
Mental health disorders are NOT caused by sin.
Mental health disorders are NOT caused by a lack of faith.

They are caused by genetics, hormones, medication, trauma, life circumstances, environments, etc.

Statements like “pray harder”, “come to church more”, “have more faith”, “think happy thoughts” etc. are not only hurtful but they are incredibly dangerous things to say.

There is enough shame and stigma associated with mental illness. The last thing we, as Christians should do is to make the person feel as though they are some how responsible for the illness they live with. Not only that, but the person has probably done everything in their power to get them out of the hell they are in. Yes, I said hell. Mental illness is hell.

There are likely many many members of your congregation that have been diagnosed with a mental illness. You can’t tell by looking at them.

I recently read a story about a young pastor who committed suicide.
Absolutely, heart-breaking.
I don’t know his specific situation, I won’t claim to.

But I do know, there have to be many in pastoral positions in churches across the nation who also struggle with mental illness.

What is the likelihood that a pastor would openly admit such a thing?

I assume it’s not likely.
Why? Because we think they should be perfect.
Mental health is something that we believe is beneath them.

Someone who spends their days in a church writings sermons couldn’t possibly be afflicted by something like mental illness (this is sarcasm…I know you do many many more things than write sermons).

But they can.
And some of them are.
And they don’t get help because the Christian community has made it out to be a Jesus issue and not a mental health issue. You just need more Jesus.

Here’s the thing.
We could all use more Jesus.
Jesus has performed SO many miracles in my life.
Thinking about His goodness makes me want to jump and scream!

Just because He has the ability to heal mental illness does not mean that when he doesn’t, it’s because that person isn’t holy enough.

No more than it means that because someone dies of cancer that they weren’t holy enough. Or, that God didn’t love them as much as the next person.

Sometimes, God doesn’t heal. Sometimes, people die well before we think their time was up.

Sometimes, bad things happen to great people. When those bad things happen, it’s not an indication of their faith or lack of, it’s an indication that we live in a sinful and fallen world. Period.

You wouldn’t tell someone suffering from a terminal illness to pray harder would you?
Maybe you would. You shouldn’t. It’s not nice. On top of that, it does not make them more likely to pray harder. It probably has the opposite effect.

What should the church do?
Have open and honest conversations about mental illness with zero judgement.
Hire licensed mental health counselors to be on staff at their church (many churches actually have licensed mental health counselors on staff).
Talk about it.
Normalize it.
LOVE them.
Support them.
Be there for them.
And…

Stop making it into something it’s not.
It’s not lack of Jesus issue.
It’s a living in a fallen and sinful world issue.