Week of May 8th, 2020
1. Are black churches addressing the mental health issues in their congregations?
2. How can the churches improve mental health care in underserved communities?
3. How does Christian counseling play an important role in the mental health treatment
plan?
4. How prepared are our faith based leaders in promoting mental health awareness?
5. Is a holistic approach a part of the solution going forward in addressing mental health
What in Mental Health?
Mental health involves our psychological, emotional, social, and spiritual well being.
Mental health reflects how we think, feel and behave. It can be influenced by how we
relate to others. Our ability to handle stress and anxiety as well as our reasoning and
making decisions.
In this discussion, we will focus on materials that address mental health in the Black
churches. According to one article, “Mental health is becoming a growing concern among
all populations and religious leaders are recognizing their place not just as spiritual
counselors but also as critical resources for their congregants, emotional and physical
needs.”
From a historical worldview in the black community, faith-based leaders often play an important
role in healing and deliverance. Many black churches also served as community resource centers
by providing space for worship and promoting social engagement. In some communities, mental
illness remains to be a taboo. Many African Americans also feel disempowered due to the stigma
of surrounding mental illness. From a cultural perspective, black women and black men are
expected to be strong and resilient.
Therefore, accepting mental illness reflects signs of weakness. The societal factors that make
black people more susceptible to mental illness. It includes:
● Black community has suffered oppression and poverty for long
● State sanctioned violence
● Black families are plagued by PTSD which has its roots in slavery and continued today
under our current racism
● African Americans living below the poverty line
● Despite personal mental illness in the black community, black people are not getting
treatment they need
● Blacks also had many experiences that affected how they view the health care systems.
For example, the Tuskegee experiment scientists carry out unlawful and deadly
experiments on black men. This has an impact on the way in which others view the
medical system. African Americans also experience racism and microaggression from
mental healthcare workers due to lack of cultural competency. In some cases, African
Americans were misdiagnosed or overlooked. Another fact is that it can be challenging to
find a black therapist who is well known and is aware of the black issues in the
communities. A lot of African Americans believe that if you have a problem you should
go in prayer and if you trust God, it will go away. Some also believe if you seek other
outside help, it’s because you are weak, not trusting God or you have committed a sin and
you live a life that leads you to this dark place. Research has shown that black faith
leaders are held in such high esteem, even though many times these leaders do not have a
background of spiritual counseling their efforts to raise awareness and encourage
members to seek help can be life changing and can impact their ministry in a negative
way. Moving forward, faith leaders will need to impart ways to reduce the stigma of
mental health by educating their members, and also by implementary resources and
programs to change the mindset of members when it comes to mental health illness.
African Americans faith leaders can explore programs that are designed to train
clergy and the congregation and to connect members to mental health resources. Some of
the other ways the churches can improve mental health care in these underserved
communities is through education. It is very clear that people of faith are not immune to
mental and emotional offering. Psalms 88:18 mentioned , “Darkness is my only friend..,”
The author Crouch suggested, “As pastors and churches invite people to follow Jesus, we
also invite them to bring all of their brokenness into our community of faith.” Therefore,
the recommended guidelines for serving people facing mental health issues using
spiritual counseling and a holistic approach. Many people believe that mental health
begins with the notion that suffering is a spiritual problem that results from personal sin.
Others also believe that mental health problems are only spiritual. Making mental health
a part of the conversation will also positively impact one’s perception.
When pastors address mental illness during worship service, they communicate to
the church body that people with mental illness are valued and grant permission for
members and attendees to talk about it. Mental illness needs to be addressed into the
conversation of congregational life. Pastors should lead the way and equip the members
to speak grace and truth into this subject. Inviting mental health professionals and the
ministry to educate members. Most pastors are not prepared to address mental health
issues yet most people who suffer with mental illness tend to reach out to their pastor for
help. In cases like this, it is wise and prudent for pastors to invite a competent biblical
counseling professional into the ministry so that biblical counselors can teach and impart
such knowledge. Mental health issues need to be introduced into a ministry plan.
Developing pastoral practice and a church environment that welcomes people who
struggle with mental health issues requires awareness and wisdom that will help the silent
suffering among us.
Christian counseling, or biblical counseling plays a vital role in mental health
care. Christian counseling also known as biblical counseling focuses on Christian
psychology. It combines your faith with the principles of psychology to improve your
mental health and relationships. This therapy approach uses scripture and biblical
teachings to help you deal with life’s challenges. Since 1968, the Christian Counseling
and Educational Foundation (CCEF) has trained God’s people in biblical counseling by
imparting the wisdom of scriptures and applying it to the complexities of the human soul.
The bible provides helpful information on how to prevent mental illness. The
bible explains how we should think and how our minds should work. I will highlight a
few biblical scriptures that support mental health care. Understanding, receiving and
believing these principles in these scriptures will allow us to live a healthy meaningful
life. The power of positive attitude. Philip 4:8, positive thinking is a habit that is crucial
to mental health. Good mental health discipline our minds and to avoid degrading topics.
Social support, Eccl. 4:10 and Gen 2:18. Taking time out (self-care) prevents stress
overload. Confront your fears. Proverbs 3:25. Social support systems. Eccl. 4:10, Gen
2:18 .Good mental health requires contact with other people.
How prepared are church leaders in helping and providing education to their members
and co-leaders. Frankly in certain demographic/denominations, pastors and leaders often end up
avoiding mental illness concerns all together. Many times faith leaders dismiss mental illness
signs and describe it as demonic. These disorders are sometimes over spiritualized and viewed as
a spiritual problem that is the result of personal sin. The best way for the leaders is to educate
the congregation into understanding that God uses Christian community to transform his people.
The good news about the gospel is that it is meant to be preached, taught, and counseled
with reference to individual’s needs. The goal is to equip Christian to live, love and counsel. One
article reminded us that Christian tradition teaches that Jesus spent most of his time with the
outcasts of his culture. He didn’t abandon people simply because they behave in ways that was
contrary to Jewish teaching. In my own personal belief that doctors, therapists and medicine are
all a part of God’s creation. Christian can both pray, seek therapy and take medication if that’s
what they need to be a whole person. We have to do away with the idea that mental health
illnesses are manifestations of lack of faith or prayer. This will ultimately promote a healthy
spiritually mind. The holistic view of mental health does not put to shame, of those that suffer.
Instead, it encourages them to pursue spiritual, emotional, and physical health.