Mental health is a topic that has been taboo in the Christian community for as long as I can remember. There has been a stigma in the church that says mental health issues are not legitimate struggles that require professional help. Statistics show that 1 out of every 5 people will have a mental illness in their lifetime, however; only 27% of churches have a plan in place to help those affected with mental illness. The idea of maintaining mental stability and wellness was never really discussed as I was growing up in the church. Most times when individuals would face challenges, the remedy given was to just pray about it. Do not get me wrong, prayer is a powerful source. But, often after just praying about a situation, many people still felt empty, lost, and helpless. They also felt that the root of their issues had not been dealt with. Perhaps the reason why the Christian community did not and sometimes still do not embrace the idea of mental health and receiving counseling is because of the fear of being considered weak and faithless. After all, the world is observing us as Christians and how we handle our circumstances. Therefore, there is often a need to feel as though we “have it all together”. There is this need to feel as though we can mask the pain so that others will not see the real issue. We often place unrealistic expectations on ourselves as Christians which is enough to lead to mental health problems. Also, there is often a fear of being labeled as “crazy” or unstable if mental health issues are openly discussed and counseling is sought. The sad part is not seeking therapy and continue to be bound when you could be free.
God never intended for us to face any battles on our own whether physical or mental. He promised to never leave us or forsake us. He also reminded us in Proverbs 11:14, (KJV) “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety”. This proves to us that it is just fine to seek professional sources in addition to what the church can offer to help us heal mentally. All it takes is the courage to step out and pursue the healing. Even in the Christian community we must become sick and tired of being sick and tired. We must decide that the vicious cycles in our minds have got to stop. Whether these mental health issues traveled to us through our bloodline or whether the issues began with us, now is the time to be FREE. Remember, being a Christian is not always about how strong we are. It is about recognizing that we are not exempt from any type of pain whether mental or physical. After recognizing there is a problem, the next step is to seek a way out. Even in the area of mental health, we will never heal from what we are not willing to reveal. Don’t wait until depression, grief, thoughts of suicide, anxiety, and stress from past trauma spiral out of control before seeking help. Today, more than ever, in these unprecedented pandemic times professional help is needed. Jesus and a therapist are a powerful combination. From this moment forward, don’t just survive but thrive. Get healed!
For information on Faith Works and Family Counseling Dr. Roslyn Phenix Email: roslynphenix@gmail.com website: roslynphenix,tribesite,com