How Churches Can Support People with Mental Illness

Photo by Thiago Barletta on Unsplash

When people struggle with mental health issues, they often turn to the church for help. The question is, is the church ready to embrace and support them? Mental illness is a complex that scientists do not fully understand. There are genetic factors, trauma, environmental influences, and chemical imbalances in the brain, but many things are still unknown.

Unfortunately, a huge stigma against mental disorders still drives people to hide their condition and not seek help.

Myths about people with mental illness

• They are demon-influenced or possessed
• Mental illness is not common
• They are spiritually weak
• They lack faith in God
• They do not pray or study the Bible enough
• They have not repented of their sins
• Taking medication is evidence of a lack of faith
• They can stop feeling that way if they just tried hard enough
• They should not seek psychiatric help because psychiatry is ineffective or pushes drug use
• People with mental illness should be feared because they may do us physical harm

Attitudes towards mental illness, past…