It's OK to Not Be Ok
Church is a place where it is okay to not be okay
Physical, Spiritual, Mental
Physical, Spiritual, Mental
Becoming a transformed follower of Jesus means submitting all parts of ourselves to the pursuit of Christ. Just as we are called to pursue physical and spiritual health, understanding and managing our mental health is an important part of being a healthy follower of Jesus. At HP Pres, we want to engage with the very real struggle that our culture is facing with mental health and empower our congregation to do the same in their own lives and the lives of others.
- Suicide and Mental Health Crisis Hotline
- 988
- National Sexual Assault Hotline
- (800) 656-4673
- National Domestic Violence Hotline
- (800) 799-7233
- Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline
- (800) 422-4453
“Mental Health in the Kingdom of God” – Christopher C. H. Cook
“For Christians, mental health may be understood as the ability to fulfill vocation within the kingdom of God.” This Christian psychiatrist discusses how the Bible points to Jesus’ concern with mental health the same way that counseling/psychiatry does by analyzing Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount and argues that they are intertwined in our lives and ability to live as Christians.
“Christians and Mental Health” – David Robertson
This Our Daily Bread Ministries article addresses how Christians deal with mental health and how we can use our faith as an advantage in the fight.
“Navigating My Relationship with Religion While Living with Mental Illness” – Katherine Ponte, JD, MBA, CPRP (NAMI)
This honest discussion and personal story of how people with deep faith must reconcile their beliefs with the struggles they face and can ultimately use their faith to improve their mental health states.
“The Stigma Around Mental Health for Christians” – Geneva College
Geneva College (a Christian college in PA) collected data from Christian studies as well as mental health research to argue against the stigma against mental health in Christian communities. They offer alternative approaches to those struggling with mental health issues.
“3 Dangers in Rejecting Mental Health Care” – Joel Rainey
This Lifeway Research article with mental health statistics discusses why Christians must use their faith as well as mental health care to care for the needs of those around them.
Mental Health Education through the National Alliance on Mental Illness
“About Mental Health” – Center for Disease Control (CDC)
Mental Health Grace Alliance cultivates healthy solutions for hearts and minds through simple, innovative biblical truths, scientific research, and practical tools.
Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries
Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries equips the Church to support mental health and wellbeing.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
NAMI provides advocacy, education, support, and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
SAMHSA’s mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.
MentalHealth.gov provides one-stop access to U.S. government mental health information and resources
“What to Look For” – MentalHealth.gov
This page divides up different categories of mental health disorders. It provides easy-to-read information about them, including anxiety disorders, behavioral disorders in children, eating disorders, mood disorders, personality disorders, psychotic disorders, self-harm, suicidal behavior, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Anxiety
- “Anxiety Disorders” – National Institute of Mental Health
- “Everything You Need to Know About Anxiety” – McLean Hospital
Depression
- “Depression” – National Institute of Mental Health
- “Depression (major depressive disorder)” – Mayo Clinic
Suicide
- “Suicide Prevention” – National Institute of Mental Health
- “Suicide” – World Health Organization
- Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas
- The Jason Foundation
Eating Disorders
- “Eating Disorders” – National Institute of Mental Health
- “Learn” – National Eating Disorder Association
Substance Abuse
- “Substance Use and Co-Occurring Mental Disorders” – National Institute of Mental Health
- “Understanding Drug Use and Addiction” – National Institute on Drug Abuse
Troubled Minds – Amy Simpson
In Troubled Minds, Amy Simpson, whose family knows the trauma and bewilderment of mental illness, reminds us that people with mental illness are our neighbors and our brothers and sisters in Christ. She shows us the path to loving them well and becoming a church that loves God with whole hearts and whole souls, with the strength we have, and with minds that are whole as well as troubled minds.
Mental Health and the Church – Dr. Stephen Grcevich
In Mental Health and the Church, Dr. Stephen Grcevich presents a simple and flexible model for mental health inclusion ministry for implementation by churches of all sizes, denominations, and organizational styles. The model is based upon the recognition of seven barriers to church attendance and assimilation resulting from mental illness: stigma, anxiety, self-control, differences in social communication and sensory processing, social isolation, and past experiences of church.
Grace for the Afflicted – Matthew S. Stanford
Why has the church struggled in ministering to those with mental illnesses? Each day men and women diagnosed with mental disorders are told they need to pray more and turn from their sin. Mental illness is equated with demonic possession, weak faith, and generational sin. As both a church leader and a professor of psychology and behavioral sciences, Matthew S. Stanford has seen far too many mentally ill brothers and sisters damaged by well-meaning believers who respond to them out of fear or misinformation rather than grace.
I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die – Sarah J. Robinson
In I Love Jesus, but I Want to Die, author and experienced ministry leader Sarah J. Robinson offers a fresh perspective to the Church and life-giving hope for those who live with mental illness. With unflinching honesty, Robinson shares proven tools and simple practices that empower readers to fight for wholeness, giving them the confidence that they are not alone in their suffering and they are worth whatever it takes to get well.
Boundaries – Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
Having clear boundaries is essential to a healthy, balanced lifestyle. A boundary is a personal property line that marks those things for which we are responsible. In other words, boundaries define who we are and who we are not. Boundaries impact all areas of our lives. Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend offer biblically-based answers to these and other tough questions, showing us how to set healthy boundaries with our parents, spouses, children, friends, co-workers, and even ourselves.
Sparks of Redemptive Grace – Catherine P. Downing
Mental illness impacts millions of families each year. Sparks of Redemptive Grace provides an authentic view of one family’s transparent hope in God’s unfailing love, hewn in the fires of fear and faith.
The Struggle is Real – Dr. Tim Clinton and Dr. Jared Pingleton
These and many other problems confront our culture today in alarming proportions. Consequently, mental and relational health issues find their way home. To everyone’s home. People with these and other concerns typically turn first to the church for help. Yet most churches are not equipped to adequately minister to the depth and magnitude of these overwhelming problems. This book was created as a comprehensive resource to provide the church with practical tools to care for these hurting people in a biblically sound and emotionally healthy way.
Be Known – Podcast with Curt Thompson, MD
“Here at the Being Known Podcast, we will discover what it means to be truly known, exploring the intersection of interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB) and Christian spiritual formation.”
Sanctuary Mental Health Ministries Podcast
Can mental health challenges and faith co-exist? Join our host Sarah Kift, as she interviews theologians, writers, leaders, and people living with mental health challenges. If you want inspiration, insight, and resources to equip your community to be a sanctuary for all people at all stages of their mental health journeys, this is the podcast for you.
CXMH is a podcast at the intersection of faith & mental health, hosted by Robert Vore & Dr. Holly Oxhandler. We bring together faith leaders and mental health professionals for honest conversations.