Mental health

Seattle Public Schools Sue Social Media Giants, Blame Them for Growing Mental Health Crisis among Young People

Seattle Public Schools Sue Social Media Giants, Blame Them for Growing Mental Health Crisis among Young People

Seattle Public Schools is suing several social media companies on the claim that the technology applications are responsible for the mental health crisis among children and teenagers.

Kirk Franklin Urges People to Check on Their Loved Ones following the Suicide of Dancer Stephen 'tWitch' Boss

Kirk Franklin Urges People to Check on Their Loved Ones following the Suicide of Dancer Stephen 'tWitch' Boss

Gospel artist Kirk Franklin encouraged people to check in on their loved ones this holiday season following the suicide death of dancer, DJ and television host Stephen "tWitch" Boss.

Black Panther Star Letitia Wright Says Christ Keeps Her Grounded: 'God Has a Plan for My Life'

<em>Black Panther</em> Star Letitia Wright Says Christ Keeps Her Grounded: 'God Has a Plan for My Life'

Marvel actress Letitia Wright reveals in a new interview that her Christian faith rescued her during a time when she was depressed and was considering quitting the industry.

Nearly 42 Percent of Gen Zers Suffer from Mental Illness, Study Shows

Nearly 42 Percent of Gen Zers Suffer from Mental Illness, Study Shows

A new study found that nearly 70 percent of Generation Z say their mental health was challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic and a total of 42 percent of Gen Zers say they have been diagnosed with a mental illness.

4 Ways the Church Can Help Those with Mental Illness

4 Ways the Church Can Help Those with Mental Illness

“The flesh can bear only a certain number of wounds and no more, but the soul can bleed in ten thousand ways, and die over and over again each hour.” Those are words from the iconic 19th century pastor/theologian, Charles H. Spurgeon, who personally understood the silent, unnamed pains of depression.

Just as we are not immune to physical health problems, people of faith are not immune to mental and emotional suffering. The psalmist cried out, “Darkness is my only friend” (Ps. 88:18). Many people in our churches relate to this ongoing sense of loneliness and despair.

Spurgeon’s self-awareness and candor were ahead of his time, but we now know it is estimated that half of us will experience some form of mental illness in our lifetime. “Combining the child and adult populations, more than fifty million Americans today experience at least one diagnosable mental health disorder on any given day. And it’s reported that there are 123 suicides in the U.S. every single day.

As pastors and churches invite people to follow Jesus, we also invite them to bring all of their brokenness into our community of faith. Jesus reconciles people to God, but he will not restore all that sin has stolen until he returns again. So until then, we serve people in their suffering. We voluntarily walk with them through the maze of their emotional, physical, relational, and spiritual challenges. Rather than viewing them as new recruits to serve our church goals, we eagerly join God’s redeeming work in their lives.

The complexities of mental health issues, however, strain pastors and churches in some very practical ways. While we want to help, we are not always sure of our role in diagnosis and treatment of those who suffer in this way. So let’s consider these four guidelines for serving people facing mental health issues:

Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/KatarzynaBialasiewicz

Fishing Captain Recounts How God Saved Him from Suicide while Lost at Sea

Fishing Captain Recounts How God Saved Him from Suicide while Lost at Sea

Captain Johnny Savage recently told CBN News' Prayerlink about how God saved his life after he became lost at sea during a fishing trip nearly 24 years ago.

Exvangelicals Are Struggling with 'Rapture Anxiety,' Mental Health Experts Say

Exvangelicals Are Struggling with 'Rapture Anxiety,' Mental Health Experts Say

A growing number of former Christians are struggling with what mental health professionals have called "rapture anxiety," a condition that stems from hearing teachings on the rapture while growing up in church.

Losing Our Religion: Blue Laws Decline While Deaths of Despair Do Not

Losing Our Religion: Blue Laws Decline While Deaths of Despair Do Not

Known as “deaths of despair,” both the Rust Belt and Appalachia have seen incredible spikes in rates of addiction, overdoses, violence, and suicide. In addition to the thousands who die each year by various forms of self-harm, thousands more live Gollum-like, trapped by their chemical chains and in loneliness.

Declining Religious Belief in the U.S. Constitutes a 'National Health Concern,' Researchers Warn

Declining Religious Belief in the U.S. Constitutes a 'National Health Concern,' Researchers Warn

A father-daughter research team detailed in a recent report that the decline of religion in America will affect not only religious organizations but a person’s health.