There’s a great article by Elliot Anderson at Leadership Journal about ministry to people suffering from mental health problems. Going by the statistics, plenty of people in your church congregation are struggling with depression, addiction, and other mental health issues. Elliot lays out some great practical advice for doing ministry in this environment, including how to recognize when somebody has gone off medication or needs special attention.

It may take an trained, experienced therapist to help somebody overcome a serious mental illness, but lending basic love and encouragement is something any church leader can do:

Key to addressing this issue is creating an environment where it’s okay to admit you have medication and mental health issues…. Mental health is a reality, and so is mental illness. We all know people with phobias and disorders. In fact, we are those people.

I try to reduce the stigma by referring to standard mental health issues like depression and addiction in my messages. I use dramatic stories I’ve read as introductions or illustrations. And I try to communicate that mental health issues are not spiritual failings. God heals in many ways, including regular, carefully regulated doses of mood stabilizing drugs. And God can use these conditions to draw people closer to himself.

Would somebody who is suffering from mental illness feel comfortable in your church, or would they feel pressure to hide their problems? If you’ve suffered from mental health issues, was your church a help or a hindrance to your recovery?