Mental Health Awareness in the Black Church
I was asked to speak at a church (and no, not just any church — the church my grandma and grandpa went to their whole lives and the one that always had the building fund “thermometer” chart in the back that never quite made it to the top) about mental health and wanted to get some ideas on wax. Here are a few points for Mental Health Awareness Week in a Christian context.
- God is good!
And how do I know? For the Bible tells me so.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” 1 Chronicles 16:34 NLT
…but sometimes our society isn’t.
I can give you countless examples of God’s favor and mercy in my life. I have lost my home because of tornados but never had a day’s lapse in being under a roof. I was given exceptional favor in applying to schools and jobs — even getting my position at UofM was a testimony that we don’t even have time for on today! But you know what, when I look at the news or talk to others, I recognize 2 really common things — the world is struggling and so is its people. We’ve got so many challenging events — like detainment and racism and poverty, and thinking about any one of them can cause sadness or fear. When we use terms like depression or anxiety, it can sound overwhelming, distant, and really problematic, but about 1 out of 3 of us sitting here today has, is, or will experience these very common diagnoses throughout our lifetimes. There’s no shame in feeling this way — so many of us do, after all — for me, it’s a shame that we think we can’t get help when we experience these problems. These problems are not a result of a weak mind or not enough faith in God, it’s from a mix of biological (or genetic), psychological (or mood and behaviors), and social (or world and interactions) factors that look different for each of us. Just because your mama LOOKED like she had it all together — whether she did or didn’t — in the midst of trials, doesn’t mean you’ll have it all together. We’re all wired differently. And another thing, society is really complicated:
“You must recognize that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land because you are good, for you are not — you are a stubborn people.” Deuteronomy 9:6 NLT
We’re dealing with people who can add stress to our lives by their actions. My research is on racism and mental health and my clients are 10–14 year old children and their parents. Yes, children can even be impacted by what’s going on in the world. If they’ve seen some troubling news or someone in the neighborhood has been hurt, there are trained people like me doing research and clinical practice just for them. No problem is too minor or complicated for us so don’t discount yourself before counting on us!
2) God doesn’t make mistakes!
And how do I know? For the Bible tells me so.
“He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!” Deuteronomy 32:4 NLT
…but sometimes we do.
How many of us are perfect? Are we ashamed when we need to seek support to sort out what we don’t understand about the situation? Even when we seek the counsel of a God-fearing helper, like our pastor, we’re still acknowledging we need someone outside of ourselves to help sort it out. As humans, we are fallible. We make mistakes. All the time. And when we do, we find people who can help us to talk it through. Ironically, some of us say we don’t want to go to therapists to put our business in the street but will go to people who have no moral or ethical authority to keep our information private and confidential. Anything you tell me is legally something I can’t share with others (unless we’re concerned with your or others’ safety). We can’t run to Facebook, we can’t call our mama, we can’t make a song and put it on the radio — it’s just between us! So if you’re experiencing frustration from a decision, confusion about what happened in a relationship or job circumstance, or can’t even put your finger on why you’re feeling more off emotionally than usual, please know we are a safe and trustworthy source of support.
3) God is a healer, way-maker, and provider!
And how do I know? For the Bible tells me so.
“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NLT
…and God gave us earthly examples of each of these things too.
The most common examples I use are the medical doctor and mechanic. MOST of us try to get checked out once a year and go more frequently when something is wrong with our bodies. We also understand the idea of driving our cars down Jefferson but if that dashboard light goes off, we need to go for maintenance. There’s no difference in therapy — some people enjoy going every now and then for a scheduled timely appointment — or a wellness check. But when the lights in your life are flashing — maybe a tight chest, tears in your eyes, or more worry than usual, it’s really time to see someone who specializes in these things. And the same way our God has provided gifts to other doctors and mechanics, I have been gifted as a mental health doctor to do my job well. I love serving God with my talents, and know I have to serve God’s children as part of my purpose. So I like to think it’s God AND my support — we call on God’s name AND make an appointment for earthly service.
Final points:
-How do I know when it’s time to see a therapist?
→with 168 hours in a week, one hour can totally be given to hearing yourself process concerns. Therapy is NOT a place for someone to tell you what to do — it’s a place for them to summarize and ask questions about how and why you feel the way you do.
-Where do I start?
→if you have insurance, call them— they can help with referrals. Other therapists have free or sliding scale services. I’ve never charged a dime at any institution I’ve ever provided services.
→check out some free resources and screeners from NAMI and CNN.
