The Church needs to sing the blues: Speaking out on mental health

1 Kings 19: 4-11

4 But Elijah himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: ‘It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.’ ⁵Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, ‘Get up and eat.’ ⁶He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. ⁷The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, ‘Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.’ ⁸He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food for forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God. ⁹At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there.

Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ ¹⁰He answered, ‘I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.’

11 He said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for theLord is about to pass by.’ 

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The story of Elijah is a powerful testimony to the depression that so many people experience around the world. In Elijah's darkest moment God doesn't rebuke him for wanting to give up but instead feeds him, protects him, and even gives him a glimpse of God's glory. In a time when Elijah is contemplating suicide God reaches out. 

This story is a beautiful example of how the church should be dealing with mental health. Elijah is not the only example of deep depression but we can find many voices from the Psalms, Lamentations, Job...and even in Christ's voice in the Garden of Gethsemane. 

Depression is a real, powerful disease that holds many in its grip. Depression is just one example of many mental health diseases people in our communities and world struggle with. 

And yet, the church is not only silent on ways to help those with mental health problems but also actively dismisses people's real sickness as a lack of faith. I can't tell you how many times I have read, heard, or personally been told that those who are depressed just need to have more faith..."you need to pray harder," they say...or "you're just not trusting in God" or even worse... "You must have done something wrong to deserve this"...and even, "well just be happy!" 

I think we should always be praying (praying without ceasing like Paul says) and I believe we do serve a God who can heal and perform miracles. I do not believe that prayer and "having" faith should make us blind to the world's problems. 

In Elijah's worst moment God reaches out. So too are we called to reach out to those who are struggling. 

Those who suffer from clinical and episodic depression, among other mental illnesses, can't "just be happy". The brain doesn't make the right amount of chemicals to produce "happiness". We do more damage by dismissing one's disease or telling someone that how they feel isn't real. 

Its a commonly used example in the mental health profession but I believe it is important to repeat: If someone was suffering from any other disease (cancer, diabetes, HIV) you wouldn't tell them to just pray it away. You wouldn't tell them to just get over it, have more faith. You would encourage them to get help. Walk beside them on their journey to a healthy life or at least through the struggle. So why is it any different for those suffering through mental health problems? 

I would like us, as people of God and as the church, to pull back the veil on mental health and step out in truth and reconciliation. There are so many programs and people we can engage with to de-stigmatize mental health problems. 

Some great places to start:

 *with our troops: PTSD is a real and terrible problem effecting so many of our men and women in the armed forces. 

*on college campuses: where suicide has become a rampant problem (I went to NYU where they compete for the highest suicide rate in the country)

*with the homeless: mean and women who can't just go get a job bc they need psychological services to be functional members of society

*New mothers: who suffer from post-partum depression 

*from the pulpit: preach about mental health and ways to get help

Churches should be building strong relationships with social services, counseling centers, and mental health specialists in their communities to connect their congregants to the right health providers. 

Pastors and ministers need to consider that some people just can't "get the gospels". We need to find new ways to reach out to those who struggle to live and think as "normal" citizens. (Henri Nouwen did a lot of work adapting theology for those struggling with severe mental health issues). 

People of faith should be able to speak out about their own struggles. If more people talk honestly about having depression (and other mental illnesses) it won't seem so foreign or taboo. 

Many people who suffer from mental illnesses can lead productive lives. We can neither be silent about the many diseases that effect the mind or discount the ability to learn and lead lives as functioning members of society. 

We also have to be content with the fact that for many, mental illness is a life problem that can't be cured. It can be brought under control, and people can be taught how to adapt to their surroundings. We need to create programs that cater to these people. Bible studies for the bipolar, liturgy for the schizophrenic, worship for the depressed, communion for the OCD...

Let us follow God's example and reach out to those who struggle with mental health.