5 Ways to Support Mental Health at Your Church

As the Church, we're called to care for people beyond Sunday sermons, supporting them in their deeper struggles. But how do we start addressing mental health, especially when most church leaders aren’t licensed counselors? By taking small, intentional steps, your church can create a compassionate space where people feel understood, supported, and encouraged to care for their mental well-being.

Mental Health and Ministry: A Pastor’s Perspective

Growing up as a pastor’s daughter in the early 90s, I was always inspired by my parents' deep commitment to serving others. They didn’t just lead spiritually; they walked alongside their congregation in practical ways, intentionally caring for the whole person. Recently, my father and I had a long conversation about how pastors navigate mental health within the Church, and something he said stood out to me.

“Mental health is an essential conversation in the Church because emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being are all connected. That said, I’m not a licensed mental health counselor. I’m a pastor and spiritual leader. I’m called to guide spiritually. Yes, sometimes there’s overlap, and I often counsel those through deep wounds. But sometimes, people also need specific mental health counseling.”

Mental health is becoming a much more open conversation in society, creating space for transparency and understanding. As the Church, we’re in a unique position to care for people’s souls and offer hope. Part of that responsibility is recognizing the importance of supporting mental health.

5 Ways to Support Mental Health in Your Congregation

The good news? You don’t have to be a mental health expert to make a difference. There are simple, practical ways you and your church can create a culture where people feel supported and encouraged to care for their mental health. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, here are five ways to get started!

1. Start the Conversation

One of the most important steps in addressing mental health at church is simply starting the conversation. Mental health issues can often feel heavy or even uncomfortable to talk about, but keeping silent only adds to the stigma. Here are a few ways you can naturally integrate the mental health conversation into your church’s culture:

Address Mental Health in Sermons: Take time during sermons to acknowledge mental health struggles, offering biblical perspectives on navigating anxiety, depression, and stress. Showing how Scripture relates to these issues helps bridge the gap between faith and mental wellness.

Host Workshops and Panels: Consider hosting workshops that address current mental health and wellness challenges from a faith-based perspective. Invite Christian mental health professionals to lead a panel discussion on topics such as the impact of social media on anxiety or how nutrition can affect mental well-being. These gatherings can help bridge the gap between spiritual guidance and emotional care.

Use Church Bulletins & Email Newsletters: Include reminders about mental health resources or counseling opportunities in your regular communications. Little nudges like this can help keep mental health on the radar without overwhelming anyone.

2. Create a Safe Space for Sharing

In Mark 2:17, Jesus tells us: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” Churches are often places where people seek healing, but the fear of judgment can sometimes keep people from being honest about what they’re going through. 

To truly support mental health, your church needs to be a safe space where individuals feel comfortable sharing their struggles and understand that struggles do not disqualify them from a relationship with Jesus. Here’s how to cultivate a vulnerable and safe environment at your church:

• Host Small Group Discussions: Small groups and support groups can be excellent spaces for people to open up. These groups don’t have to be solely focused on mental health—any group where trust and openness are nurtured can help people feel seen and heard. Sometimes, sharing in a more intimate setting allows people to open up more freely.
• Engage in Compassionate Leadership: Make sure that staff and church leaders promote a unified message about mental health and provide a safe, non-judgmental space for anyone who comes forward with their struggles. When people feel safe sharing their challenges, it helps break down barriers and allows the church to become a place of healing and support.

3. Partner with Mental Health Professionals

Spiritual care is essential, but professional mental health should not be discounted. Churches can play a significant role by partnering with licensed counselors or therapists who can offer the specialized care that some individuals need. The following tips will help you establish these partnerships:

• Train Your Staff: Equip pastors and church leaders with the tools to identify when someone might benefit from professional mental health care. Provide training on how to have sensitive conversations and make referrals without stigma or shame.
• Build Referral Networks: Build relationships with Christian counselors or therapists in your area so that you have trusted professionals to recommend when someone needs more in-depth care.
• Invite Professionals: Consider inviting mental health professionals to speak at your church. They can provide workshops or sessions that offer practical ways to manage stress, anxiety, or trauma from a faith-based perspective.

4. Encourage Rest and Self-Care

Rest is essential for mental health, and your church has a unique opportunity to model and encourage rhythms of rest that nurture both mental and spiritual well-being. Here are a few ways to encourage rest in your congregation:

• Encourage Sabbath Rest: Remind your community of the importance of the Sabbath and intentional time away from the pressures of life. Encourage people to carve out time for rest, reflection, and prayer. As Matthew 11:28 (NIV)  reminds us: "Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." This verse reinforces the idea that rest is not just a suggestion but a gift from God meant to restore and refresh us.
• Offer Resources: Provide your congregation with take-home tools that promote spiritual and physical rest. This could be a Lectio Divina journal for guided scripture reading and prayer or even a Spotify soundtrack with peaceful worship music. 
• Lead by Example: Show your leadership team’s commitment to rest by modeling it yourselves. When the congregation sees that even church leaders prioritize rest, they’re more likely to follow suit.

5. Create Opportunities for Authentic Connection

Feeling connected to others is crucial for mental health. Loneliness and isolation can exacerbate mental health struggles, but community can be a source of healing. Use the following steps to establish community at your church:

• Create Opportunities for Connection: Offer small groups, volunteer teams, or social events where members can build meaningful relationships.
• Be Intentional: Encourage the congregation to be intentional about building relationships that go beyond Sunday services. When people feel seen and known, they are more likely to reach out when they need support.
• Launch a Community Partner System: Create a volunteer-based community partner system where new members are paired with trained volunteers who can guide them through their first few months at church. These partners can introduce them to other members, help them get involved in church activities, and check in regularly to offer support.

Bonus Tip: Remember that Your Pastors and Staff May Struggle with Mental Health, Too. 

It’s easy to forget that pastors and church staff may also be struggling with their own mental health challenges. The pressures of leading a congregation, being constantly available, and navigating personal struggles can take a significant toll on their well-being. It’s important to regularly check in on your team and staff, ensuring they have access to mental health resources and opportunities for self-care. Creating a culture of care within the leadership helps to model mental wellness for the entire congregation. 

For additional insights, this Barna article found here highlights the unique challenges pastors face. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicide or self-harm, please don’t hesitate to dial or text 988 to reach the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Wrapping Up

Finding balance is key when addressing the intersection of spiritual and mental health in the Church. While faith can be a powerful source of healing, not every struggle should be over-spiritualized. Many mental health challenges require practical, emotional, and sometimes professional support alongside spiritual guidance. Similarly, we shouldn’t view every difficulty solely through the lens of mental health. By embracing a balanced approach that honors both spiritual and practical needs, the Church can offer holistic care that supports individuals in body, mind, and spirit.

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