One of the world’s greatest problems remains shunned by secular society and the church …

Today is World Mental Health Day, so designated because the issues of mental health and mental illness are bigger than just a national crisis in the United States, it’s a global one.

Before the pandemic in 2019, an estimated one in eight people globally lived with a mental health disorder.

Globally, one in four people will need mental health care in their lifetime.

According to the World Health Organization, the services, skills, and funding available for mental health remain in short supply, and fall far below what is needed, especially in low and middle income countries.

More than 43 million Americans battle with mental health issues.

Depression among youth continues to increase. In 2022, 15.08 percent of youth (age 12-17) report suffering from at least one major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year. Childhood depression is more likely to persist into adulthood if gone untreated.

Research has shown, and it has been the experience of Scott Free Clinic, that most people who need clinical services for mental health issues or mental illness don’t get the professional help they need for three key reasons:

1. Stigma attached to suffering from a mental illness or mental health issue or for “going to counselor.”
2. They can’t afford it.
3. Competent, professional care isn’t available in their area.

The need for competent mental health services globally is staggering, which is why the theme for today’s World Mental Health Day is “Make mental health and well-being for all a global priority.”

There are a few reasons why that likely won’t happen any time soon, the chief issue being that in society at large, and in the church, significant ignorance about mental health and mental illness continues to abound. So let me share some thoughts related to that:

1. Every human being on the planet experiences mental health issues, and some experience mental illness. Before you have a negative knee-jerk reaction to that, let me ask you:

Have you ever been stressed? That’s a mental health issue.

Have you ever felt any level of anxiety? That’s a mental health issue.

Have you ever experienced any level of depression, even if for just a short period? That’s a mental health issue.

Mental health is a continuum, just as physical health is. Regarding physical health, at one end you have disease-free, robust physical health; then, along that spectrum, you might have a headache, and then a cold, then the flu, then a disease, then a life-threatening illness — your experience of physical health throughout your life is a continuum. So is your mental health: at one end, you have rational thinking and basic self-awareness and a healthy emotional life; then you struggle with irrational thinking; then you develop irrational attitudes; you develop habits and patterns or cognitive distortions, and you can move on into mental illnesses.

Just as there is a need for a robust health care system for our physical health, there is a need for a robust mental health system for our mental health.

2. Mental illness is not a sin. Most people who profess to be Christians don’t immediately label people with serious physical illnesses “sinners” because they are physically ill. Physical illness can come about because of sinfulness practices and behaviors, but generally speaking, physical illness isn’t a “punishment” for a sin. The same is true for mental illness, which have biological or physical root causes. But there are multiple reasons a person may experience mental health issues or mental illness, and while that includes sinful behavior and practices, you don’t understand your Bible AND sound science if you think mental illness is a sin. To be more blunt, if you think mental illness is a sin, you’re part of the problem.

3. Both secular society and the church are hypocrites when it comes to “using” science. For example, secular society argues it has great allegiance to science, but ignores it when science doesn’t support its positions (for example, when life begins, the issues of sex and gender, etc.). And in a similar manner, Christians can be quick to embrace science to support their pro-life beliefs while attaching stigma to mental health, mental illness, taking psychotropic medications, or engaging a mental health professional. Science is not God, but it is a gift from God given to us to help us better understand His creation. While there is a great deal of “quackery” in psychology and psychiatry, both of those sciences have advanced incredibly over the past 100 years. A large body of research shows that various therapies are highly effective at helping people either overcome mental illness, or to manage it well so they can live well-adjusted, full lives.

4. Christians who know their Bible should understand that it is with the mind, specifically with our thoughts and attitudes, that is God’s starting point in His transforming work in our lives:

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect,” Romans 12:2.

“Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God — truly righteous and holy,” Ephesians 4:23.

While God does the work of transformation, we’re responsible for cooperating with the Holy Spirit in bringing the change God intends for our lives. Having a deep understanding of the human mind (that’s what the field of psychology is), and very specifically the thought life, can be an invaluable tool for equipping people in overcoming habits and patterns that need to change for us to follow in the steps of Jesus. In other words, our mental health should be important to us as Christians, and important for us to understand.

In that case, the church should be among the greatest of “champions” when it comes to fighting stigma related to mental illness, and supporting mental health.

How about you? You can be a champion for mental health. One way you can do that is by supporting Scott Free Clinic, an international ministry that removes the barriers of cost and access to help people around the world get the help they need to change their lives. You can support this ministry by 1) making a donation today from our website by clicking here, 2) in addition to making a donation today, consider becoming a regular Care Partner with SFC by supporting this ministry on a regular basis (monthly, quarterly, etc., whenever you want or can, giving any amount you choose), and 3) become a Prayer Partner with SFC (learn more about that by clicking here).

At the very least, I encourage you to do something to further educate yourself about mental health and mental illness. From books, to blogs, to podcasts, to magazines, to organizations, to the internet, there are vast resources to educate yourself about mental health and mental illness if you want to do so. One starting point could be to read my book, “Insights for Your Mental & Behavioral Health: Revised & Expanded Edition,” which you can find here.

The issue of mental health and mental illness is a global crisis, I encourage you to be part of the solution to that serious problem.

In His Service,

Dr. James Scott, Jr.
Founder & President,
Scott Free Clinic