Faith Meets Academia

Episode 46: How Faith-Based Leaders Can Support Mental Health Without Replacing Professional Support Services

• Dr. Adrian Reynolds

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List of national mental health resources with contact information descriptions of when to use each one:

1. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
•Phone: Call or Text 988
•Website: 988lifeline.org
•When to use: If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or thinking about suicide. Also for general mental health crises. Available 24/7 with trained crisis counselors.

2. Crisis Text Line
•Text: Text HOME to 741741
•Website: crisistextline.org
•When to use: If you’re experiencing a crisis and prefer texting over talking—especially helpful for panic attacks, anxiety, depression, or emotional overwhelm. Available 24/7.


3. National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline
•Phone: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)
•Hours: Monday–Friday, 10 AM – 10 PM ET
•Website: nami.org/help
•When to use: When you need information, guidance, or resources about mental health conditions for yourself or a loved one. Not a crisis line but highly supportive.


4. SAMHSA’s National Helpline
•Phone: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
•Website: samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
•When to use: If you’re looking for treatment options or referrals for mental health or substance use disorders. Available 24/7, free, and confidential.


5. Veterans Crisis Line
•Phone: Call 988, then press 1
•Text: 838255
•Website: veteranscrisisline.net
•When to use: If you’re a veteran, service member, or family member in crisis or needing support. 24/7 confidential care.

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DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely my own and do not reflect or represent the positions, policies, or opinions of my employer, any organization or academic institution with which I am affiliated. This podcast is a personal initiative, and is not connected to my official/ formal duties and responsibilities as a university professor.

Speaker 1:

Hey friends, welcome back to Faith Meets Academia, fma, episode 46. Thanks for joining me again. I hope your week is off to a great start, and if it started out great, I hope that it'll end even greater. This is the day which the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. It's a new day.

Speaker 1:

We thank God for life and just another opportunity to say Lord, I thank you for waking me up this morning. Lord, I thank you for the meal that I had today. Lord, I thank you for a roof over my head. Lord, I thank you for clean running water just basic necessities that we so often take for granted. David declares it is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord. So we're starting off with a spirit of thanksgiving. Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. All right, so let's jump right in.

Speaker 1:

Let me ask you something. Have you ever had someone in your congregation share a deep struggle with you, maybe about depression, anxiety, a personal crisis, and you weren't sure exactly how to help? I mean, this can sometimes feel overwhelming. Right, you really want to help, but you're not quite sure what to say, how to react. As faith-based leaders, we care deeply and we want to offer support, but we know that not all faith-based leaders are trained, licensed counselors or therapists. Nonetheless, there is a role for all of us in ministry to offer emotional support. It's part of our calling and our role isn't to replace professional counseling for those of us who don't offer professional counseling, but there's a middle ground here. We're in a unique position to bridge the gap between faith and mental health to help our congregants feel safe enough to seek the support that they need. So today we're going to cover six key reasons why faith-based leaders can make a big impact on their congregants' emotional, spiritual and psychological well-being, especially when it comes to encouraging professional mental health support. In other words, what is it that uniquely positions us to support the well-being of our people? All right, so let's go. Number one the trust factor. The trust factor meaning how strong established relationships encourage healing and recovery.

Speaker 1:

One of the biggest advantages we have as clergy is how often and in how many different settings we engage with our congregants. So let's think about it. I mean from church services to Bible study groups, social gatherings, volunteer activities. I mean you name it. We see our members in ways that most therapists don't. We see our congregants once a week, I'm sure, at least you know, we may have conversations during a lunch break or after service or, you know, connect during Bible study. You may run into them at various church events and this gives us a front row seat, if you will, to various changes in behavior, in mood or emotional states that others might miss. So we may notice someone who used to be sociable, outgoing, now suddenly pulling away, or somewhat isolated right, a person who always seemed pretty upbeat now acting more withdrawn. So as clergy, we have this unique opportunity to check in and ask how they're doing and let them know it's okay to seek help.

Speaker 1:

Proverbs 11, 14 reminds us where there is no counsel, the people fall. But in the multitude of counselors there is safety. Did you hear that In the multitude of counselors there is safety? Therapy isn't about replacing faith. It's part of that safety net that God provides. All right.

Speaker 1:

So here's the second reason why faith-based leaders are in a unique position to help support the mental health and well-being of their congregants. Remember not to replace professional counseling or therapy, but to be that crucial link between one's psychological and emotional well-being and their spiritual being. Here it is we have a deeper understanding of the whole person, meaning we're able to connect the dots connect the dots between faith, family and mental health. Unlike therapists, who usually meet with clients for, let's say, one hour a week, as clergy we often know the broader context of the individual's lived experiences, such as their history in the church, family dynamics, their spiritual journey and challenges, concerns they've had along the way, and this gives us a unique perspective and insight. So when someone opens up to us, we're able to offer guidance that isn't just based on what they are saying in that moment, but it's rooted, it's grounded in a much deeper understanding of their experiences, their world. We understand and make sense of their lives in ways that are spiritually relevant.

Speaker 1:

But here's the thing I think, for those of us who are not trained, professional, licensed counselors, we have to also understand where our lane ends, so to speak. As much as we care, as much insight we have, as much godly wisdom as we have, we're not meant to address their mental health challenges alone. For us as clergy, we have to understand that encouraging therapy isn't a sign of failure. It's a sign of wisdom, it's a sign of knowing our own limitations Again, for those of us who are not trained, licensed therapists or counselors and it's recognizing that healing is teamwork. Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 4, 9, and 10, two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor, For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. So we are called to walk with our congregants in their mental health journey, but we're not called to just do it all by ourselves.

Speaker 1:

Therapy and faith can work together hand in hand, and when they do, the results are usually life-changing hand in hand. And when they do, the results are usually life-changing, all right. Reason number three faith-based leaders are able to break through theological barriers to mental health support. Okay, what do I mean by this? All right, let's keep it real. You know, sometimes the biggest obstacle to someone seeking help isn't access to affordability right, when it comes to people of faith, right, so often it's theology. So you might've heard things like if I just prayed harder, you know, maybe I wouldn't feel this way. Or you know God is my healer. You know I don't need counseling. God is my therapist. Mental illness means my faith is weak, something is wrong with my faith, and it's painful to hear that kind of thinking, especially when we know how damaging it can be. But you see, it's also an opportunity, a moment to gently and compassionately reframe this misunderstanding or dispel these myths, if you will.

Speaker 1:

Mental health struggles are not a sign of spiritual failure. They're just a part of the human experience. There are people you know right now who might be going through a mental health crisis and you might not even know that's the case, because when they're in your congregation crisis. And you might not even know that's the case because when they're in your congregation, when they are praising the Lord and they are in the moment of worship and Thanksgiving and the spirit is high, you can't see that pain. But when they leave the walls of your place of worship, they might be going back home to anxiety, depression, emotional trauma you name it. So it's important to know that, because it might not be evident to you, it doesn't mean that it doesn't exist.

Speaker 1:

Someone you know might just be facing a mental health battle, someone yep, sitting right there in your place of worship, and so it's a discussion, it's a conversation, dare I even say it's a sermon that has to be preached. We can't not talk about this because it's just part of the human experience and just like God can work through medicine for physical healing, he can also work through therapy for emotional healing. Proverbs 24.6, for by wise counsel you will wage your own war, and in a multitude of counselors there is safety. Counseling is biblical yes, it is. We're not meant to face these battles alone, not the spiritual ones and not the mental ones either. When we speak openly about mental health, when we preach about the value about mental health, when we preach about the value of wise counsel, when we show our congregants that therapy and faith can coexist, can work together, can be mutually beneficial, we're helping to tear down the walls of the stigma associated with mental health. In other words, we make it safe to say I need help. All right.

Speaker 1:

Here's reason number four Clergy can provide continuity, consistent, long-term spiritual support for mental wellness. One of the biggest differences between a therapist and a faith-based leader is the continuity factor. Therapists often work with clients for maybe a few months or maybe even a year, but as clergy we're often in people's lives for years, maybe even decades, and the implication of this is this kind of long-term relationship gives us the ability to offer consistent guidance. Guess what? Even after someone finishes therapy, they'll still be coming to church, they'll still be in the small group Bible study, they'll still need support and we'll still be coming to church. They'll still be in the small group Bible study, they'll still need support and we'll still be there. When the therapy sessions are over, the doors of the church are still open. It's a place where healing continues, all right. Reason number five Clergy can serve as a bridge to professional mental health support. What do I mean by that? Let's talk logistics for a second.

Speaker 1:

The reason why people avoid therapy is not always because of fear or stigma. Yes, in many instances that might be the case, but it's not always the case. Think about this. They just might not know where to start. The process might feel sort of confusing, intimidating. There might be information overload, and that's where, as clergy, we come in. We can be the connectors in chief, if you will. We can be the one to help demystify, break down, simplify, process, making it more understandable, more acceptable, more manageable, and by so doing we can make that first step of reaching out less scary.

Speaker 1:

It might be that we keep a list of trusted, faith-based counselors, right, other mental health providers. It might be just saying something as simple. As you know. Hey, jane doe, I have talked with many people who are going through similar struggle as you are going through right now, and I've seen them come through this victoriously, with the appropriate help and guidance. I know someone who can help and I can walk you through how the process works. Just a simple invitation can mean a whole lot for someone who's already going through a mental health crisis and then, on top of that, have to navigate the system on their own.

Speaker 1:

I want you to take a look at this verse in Luke 5, 31 and 32, where Jesus himself says those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Hey, check this out. If Jesus could acknowledge that we need physicians and we can acknowledge that, yes, therapists, counselors, mental health professionals. They play a crucial role in this journey of life and we need them just as much as we need physicians. It's not either or it's both and and. When we help our congregants make that connection, the healing process becomes more accessible, more achievable. All right, so here's the sixth and final reason.

Speaker 1:

Because of everything that we've talked about so far, namely our trust with congregants, our knowledge of their context, our ability to address theological concerns, our consistent presence and serving as that bridge to guide them toward professional care, we are in a powerful position to model what healthy emotional and mental well-being looks like. Here's the plain truth that might be uncomfortable for many of us in leadership roles to accept. We're always modeling something, whether we mean to or not. But here's the question what exactly are we modeling If we overwork ourselves, never set boundaries, sleep deprived, don't reach out for help when we need to, etc. Our congregants see that. Also, if we dismiss our own emotional struggles or avoid getting help, they'll believe that's what faithfulness looks like and that's quite harmful to the people that we've been commissioned to serve.

Speaker 1:

But I believe we can choose to model something healthier. When we take care of our own mental health and well-being, when we acknowledge our limitations and are bold enough to be vulnerable when it comes to those limitations, we create a safer space for others to do the same. As I have stated publicly at my local church as well as right here on this podcast, I have my own therapist that I meet with periodically and have always found it tremendously helpful, and that's why I'm able to speak on this topic so freely, so candidly, because I actually believe in what I'm saying, because it's worked for me, I've experienced it, and so if you're a faith-based leader listening to this episode right now. Fine, life might be going so well for you that you feel like you have no need for therapy or counseling, and that's okay. But even if that's the case, you're not exempt from at minimum engaging in some sort of professional development course or brief training. I mean it doesn't have to be anything long, it doesn't have to be two, three months. I mean it could be just a few hours on this crucial topic, mental health. If you can't do it for yourself, do it for the people that you serve. You really have no excuses. You just can't buy the whole. Well, this is not my thing. I'm not good at this stuff. No, you have no choice. The people you serve need your informed guidance when it comes to mental health, and so wherever the knowledge gaps are in terms of this topic, we must fill them. You're a faith-based leader. I'm not saying hey, you should go out and become a licensed counselor If you choose not to go that route, I respect that. Nonetheless, you have to ask yourself this question Are there areas for improvement? Again, as I mentioned in recent episodes, I am mental health first aid certified. I've also completed a psychological first aid course, and this is only the beginning.

Speaker 1:

Now let's talk about a few common objections to seeking mental health support services. First objection Sometimes people feel like, hey, I should be able to deal with this on my own, I'll handle it in my own time, I'll work through it, I'm good. But in reality they're not. Whether it's because of their upbringing or struggles they've had to overcome independently in life, some may take this approach to life's challenges in general, but that's not a sign of strength, that's a sign of fear, the fear of allowing someone else to help us resolve problems that we have been struggling to resolve without any success. And so it's the mindset that says, if I reach out for help, it's an indication that I'm weak. Leaders, caregivers, parents, even pastors, can fall into this type of thinking. Reaching out for help, seeking help, isn't a sign of weakness, it's wisdom. Let's look at Moses. Read Exodus 18.

Speaker 1:

From morning till evening, moses was there for the Israelites. He was the judge, he was the counselor, the lawgiver, the adjudicator, I mean, he was doing all the things. And his father-in-law, jethro, saw what was going on and he's like come on, man, this is going to wear you out. Exodus 18, 17 and 18. So Moses' father-in-law said the thing that you do is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out, for this thing is too much for you. You're not able to perform it by yourself. So Jethro tells Moses to delegate, appoint competent leaders over groups of various sizes, groups of thousands, hundreds, fifties, tens. And Moses took that advice and guess what? It not only was beneficial for his health, it also placed him in a position to lead and serve the people more effectively by expanding the leadership responsibilities beyond just one person. In essence, he established a leadership team.

Speaker 1:

Trying to carry it all alone can wear you out, and allowing others to help is a part of God's design. Even Jesus himself modeled help-seeking behavior in Matthew 26, 38, in the Garden of Gethsemane. Here's what he says to Peter, james and John. Then he said to them my soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with me. This is Jesus talking now. He didn't isolate in distress. He invited others to join him, to support him. And so even our Lord and Savior showed us that even the strongest among us can reach out for support when feeling overwhelmed.

Speaker 1:

Here's another objection to seeking mental health support. Therapists don't understand my faith or my religion. Well, there are many therapists out there who do integrate faith into their practice and for sure and for sure you have the liberty to select a therapist, a mental health provider, who you feel align. Align with. Any particular can respect spiritual values. They're trained to do that to be able to respect, understand and be considerate of diverse spiritual or faith-based orientations diverse spiritual or faith-based orientations.

Speaker 1:

All right, I'll give you one last objection that some may have to seeking mental health support. I'll just pray about it. That's enough for me. Hey, listen, I understand prayer is powerful, but it's about faith and action working together. James 2.26 puts it like this For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead. Also, if you want to hear more on that, read James 2.14-26.

Speaker 1:

Just as we pray for physical healing while seeking medical care, let me repeat that we pray for physical healing yes, we do While seeking medical care, not instead of, but while. We can also pray for emotional healing while seeking counseling, therapy and other forms of psychological and emotional healing. So, friends, particularly to my ministerial colleagues, what's the takeaway here? As faith-based leaders, we have an incredible opportunity to support mental well-being while also directing people toward professional help. Remember, our role is not to replace therapy, but to normalize it, encourage it and walk alongside our congregants in their healing journey. In other words, galatians 6.2,. Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. So here's what you can do this week Start a conversation around mental health with someone you think would really benefit from your support, your comforting voice, your guidance, or just check in.

Speaker 1:

Check in with someone who may be struggling and provide some encouragement. Gently encourage them to seek help and assist them with the resources that they can use to get help. Your support could be a turning point that helps someone take the next step toward healing. That helps someone take the next step toward healing. Let's embrace this aspect of our calling with wisdom, compassion and yes, faith. If this episode spoke directly to you, share it with somebody else. Even if you're not a minister, pastor, faith-based leader, you may want to share it with somebody else. Even if you're not a minister, pastor, faith-based leader, you may want to share it with someone who is. Let's keep the conversation going. Reach out and let me know how you're navigating mental health support in your ministry. I'll be providing a few key mental health support resources in the episode description. Feel free to check them out. Store them in your phone so you can have them handy whenever needed. Until next time, take care and stay encouraged, god bless.