Has the church markedly improved its stance on mental illness?

The answer to the question above is no.

And that’s tragic.

I purposely use the word “tragic” because it is actually resulting in tragedy.

Let me give you one real-life example.

I recently discharged from counseling a woman who attempted suicide because of the shaming she experienced from other church members over her mental illness. Although she lived, to reach such depth of despair over how “brothers and sisters in Christ” treated her is T-R-A-G-I-C!

The person referred to is an elderly woman who, with her husband, spent most of their adult lives serving as missionaries in a country where doing so risked their lives. Over the past several years, she developed a serious case of anxiety, for which she was prescribed medication. That medication helped her significantly; with the medication, she was able to balance out the affects of anxiety and live a reasonably stable life.

But then “friends” in her local church found out she was taking medication for anxiety. Their response? They shamed her. They told her she shouldn’t take medication, but should trust God more. Overwhelmed by their shaming, she stopped taking her medication and the result of that was she not only became suicidal but actually attempted suicide.

Thanks be to God her attempt failed.

She has since recovered well enough to be discharged from counseling.

But that’s how dangerous and destructive ignorant attitudes and behaviors about mental health issues and mental illness by professing Christians can be in the lives of people who are suffering real mental illnesses.

What ugly sin!

This issue of stigma and shaming isn’t just something the church and its leaders seriously need to educate themselves about, for many it’s sinful behavior that needs to be repented of.

There’s no better time than right now.

May is national Mental Health Awareness Month. I implore you to not let that be an empty emphasis for you, but that you actually do something this month to educate yourself about the truth regarding mental health and mental illness. Scott Free Clinic is making one key resource available, which is my newly revised and expanded (we doubled the content!) book, “Insights for Your Mental and Behavioral Health: Revised & Expanded Edition.” You can find that book on our ministry website by clicking here. And if you still think stigma doesn’t do much, check out a previous blog post titled, “Three ways stigmatizing people with a diagnosis of a mental illness can harm their lives …,” which you can find by clicking here.

Other than your own homes and families, the church should be the safest place on this planet for people struggling with mental health issues and mental illness. Yet, in 2022, both families and churches are still causing harm to people who need our love, compassion, and support.

Make a serious contribution toward changing that.

Scotty