Today, mental health in the church continues to grow in importance and demands space and attention. We have adapted to the understanding that students and working adults alike need “mental health days” to separate themselves from the barrage of life and regroup. We make sure our relationships and boundaries are constantly modified to fit our needs, and we search for ways to continue to feed the necessary growing parts of ourselves. With the understanding that mental health needs to be addressed in seemingly every aspect of our lives, I wondered how I, as a Haitian Baptist church girl, could address it in the setting of my faith and church. My pastor was able to sit down with me and discuss his view on the intersection and his vision for action and change.
Is Mental Health a Taboo Topic for the church?
Me: As a child of a pastor, how comfortable do you think your father was about addressing mental health and its part in the church community?
Pastor Rick: He dedicated the whole month of May and June to families, and mental health is a part of that, so I think he was very comfortable addressing it. But also, I don’t think it was addressed that extensively because it has been more emphasized in the last 5-10 years.
Me: As a “younger generation” pastor, how comfortable are you addressing mental health and its part in the church community?
Pastor Rick: Very comfortable. I am bi-vocational and have to be able to address and find signs and symptoms in my students as a teacher. Knowing about mental health makes me more cognizant of addressing it at my church. I plan to bring a mental health counselor to the church. I believe the church will perish not only because of a lack of scripture but also lack of knowledge of what’s going on within themselves.
Me: How receptive do you think your flock will be in accepting the mental health counselor and this topic?
Pastor Rick: I think they will be more than willing to receive them because they are a professional in their domain. They will be willing to listen not only because it’s a professional speaking about it but also because their pastor will put biblical context to it.
Mental Health: Main Character or Supporting Actor?
Me: How much of a role do you think mental health plays in the church community?
Pastor Rick: Mental health is central to spirituality. The Gospel is setting people free from bad teaching and falsehood. Mental health is setting you free in how you think by having a mind of God. If you don’t understand mental health, depending on your denomination or culture, you might say it’s demonic. Jesus knew how to handle each individual. For example, the lady at the well in John 4 is a great example of a mental health issue, and the moment she was able to be addressed by her issue, she was free.
A lot of time we are looking to cast a demon out and what we need to do is just lend an ear. There have also been men of God in the bible going through depression, like Elijah, where it was so bad that God had to send a bird to feed him. So why should we shy away from doing something about it if Jesus came here to heal the brokenhearted and set people free who were oppressed by religion, demons, ailments, emotions like depression, or anything else that binds people?
Luke 4:18 – The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.
Me: What do you think are challenges that mental health plays in the church?
Pastor Rick: It’s very cultural. Some cultures can come to church, look good, and dance to the music but still hold their pain. Once we allow ourselves to be free and vulnerable with others, we allow freedom to come forth. We aren’t being “fake” like critics like to say; it’s just cultural to keep your issues within your household and not let them out. It’s a lack of trust and a sense of insecurity, but we are stopping ourselves from being healed.
James 5:16 – Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Speaking Up Saves
Me: Have you in the past spoken about mental health to your church community? Would you in the future?
Pastor Rick: I have not given a sermon specifically on mental health, but I have talked about aspects of mental health in my sermons around things like vision for your life and a clear head or forgiveness and how it can help heal your mental health. In the future, I will continue to incorporate it in my sermons and even have full sermons on it because renewing your mind is mental health, and it is also the center of Christianity. When we’re not focused on other people and their things that is when the devil tries to come and sway us, and those are some of the ways he uses to distort your mind and mess with your mental health.
Romans 12:2 – Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.
Embracing mental health as part of the church’s ministry reflects a broader societal shift towards recognizing the importance of mental health and breaking down barriers that prevent individuals from seeking help and finding hope in their journey towards mental wellness.
100% agree! It’s such an important aspect of how the church can help its members.
Hi, my family recently relocated to a new region, and we’ve been looking for ways to become involved in our neighborhood and feel a part of it. We’ve made the decision to look for a church in our area where we may join like-minded people, participate in meaningful activities, and create relationships with our neighbors because we understand the importance of shared values and spiritual growth. I really appreciate how you discussed how mental health in the church is becoming more and more important, demanding space and attention, and how churches have changed to reflect the realization that both students and working adults need “mental health days” to step back from the pressures of life and regroup.