Church Response to Mental Illness

by Peter Andres

Are people of faith with a mental illness different from those who have a physical illness? Much about mental illness still remains a mystery. That's one of the reasons people are tempted to spiritualize the problem. They hope that the person living with a mental illness would be able to gain spiritual strength and thus gain victory of the illness.

What remains hard for many to understand is that having a mental illness and being a strong person of faith is no different from having a serious physical illness and being a strong person of faith. How can church leaders encourage support for people with a mental illness? What does a person living with a mental illness need to help him or her feel accepted and part of the congregation?

How does the Christian message and experience take on meaning under these circumstances? What is mental illness, anyway?

Marja Bergen, in her book Riding the Roller Coaster (Northstone, 1999) describes her experiences living with bipolar disorder. She talks about the many important factors that helped make her life with this illness tolerable and manageable. Having a supportive husband, friends, and service systems were critical, but she also acknowledges the importance of a spiritual home. Her church friends learned to understand her illness and provided spiritual nurture, especially during difficult times. She speaks about the friendships that include a common belief as being the most valuable ones she'll have. But she also admits that she was fortunate in this regard.

Sadly, when looking for spiritual help during difficult times, many people living with a mental illness face ignorance, stigma, avoidance, and judgment. The spiritual counsel and prayer these people receive frankly do more harm than good.

Understanding mental illnesses, even from the professional, scientific perspective, is still very much a work in progress. Schizophrenia and its related disorders, bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression), major depression, panic and obsessive-compulsive disorders are all considered mental illnesses. It is estimated that between 15% to 20% of North Americans will, at some time in their lives experience a mental illness. Most of these will suffer debilitating depression. Evidence suggests that there are probably organic (biochemical) reasons for this illness, psycho-social origins, or a combination of the two. Treatments that deal with the symptoms include medications, psychotherapy or a blend of both. What is clear to people working in the field is that the experience of the illness goes far beyond living with the symptoms.

While a person who has a physical illness, even cancer, suffers discomfort and anxiety related to the illness, those living with a mental illness suffer from a constellation of additional issues. These all affect their ability to return to wellness. Another issue is stigma, both internally and externally imposed. This includes spiritual, emotional and physical self-devaluation. There's also the loss of self-worth and self-efficacy that might come with a loss of job, friends, marriage and the feelings of being separated from God. What church members need to know is that while miraculous healing (that is, complete remission) can occur for some persons with a mental illness, many others experience a recovery that allows return to an active and fulfilling life, even while still continuing to experience times that are difficult.

• the return of a positive sense of self, usually through meaningful endeavor (work, vocation),
• a circle of meaningful relationships,
• a place to live that the person can call his or her own,
• and a spiritual life that feels a reconnection with God.

The recovering person can be experiencing personal brokenness and limitations, yet have valuable gifts to offer to the church community.

How can the church assist someone in a situation as devastating as this?

1. Church leaders and church members need to know that a mental illness is not the same as a spiritual crisis. Nor is the absence of healing, especially after fervent prayer, a sign of judgment or lack of faith.