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Myths Some Christians Believe About Mental Illness
In the past, no one in the church really talked about mental illness. Those who suffered from mental health issues felt isolated and ashamed of their condition. They felt weak and believed there was something spiritually wrong with them, so they thought they needed to hide in a state of hopelessness.
Although the church has made some strides in acknowledging mental illness and supporting those who struggle with it, there are still many misconceptions and myths surrounding this condition. Society itself tends to stigmatize people with mental illness and fear them, contributing to the problem.
Common Myths
Mental Illness Is Not Common
Mental illness is actually much more pervasive than people believe. Estimates say that either one in four or one in five people in the general population will experience a mental illness at some time in their lives. A Lifeway research study revealed that 59 percent of pastors have counseled one or more people who were diagnosed with a serious mental illness.
Mental Illness Is A Spiritual Problem
Some Christians think that disorders such as depression occur because the mentally ill person lacks faith, is spiritually weak, does not study their Bible, or does not pray enough. If the person would just make the effort, they…
