When Faith and Mental Health Collide: Breaking the Stigma from Both Sides
By Deborah Medari, DNP
Founder, Transformed Psychiatric Wellness, LLC
In my years of working in both ministry and mental health, I’ve seen a painful truth far too often: many Christians feel stuck in silence when it comes to their mental health. They suffer quietly in the pews, overwhelmed by depression, anxiety, trauma, or addiction, all while believing they must keep it hidden to appear spiritually strong. On the flip side, I’ve also seen professionals in psychiatry dismiss or even ridicule faith—treating belief in God as a sign of delusion or immaturity rather than a meaningful source of strength.
This dual stigma—from within the church and within the field of psychiatry—can leave Christian believers isolated, ashamed, and unsure of where to turn. But it doesn't have to be this way. There is a path forward that honors both faith and mental health. And it begins with open, compassionate conversations.
Stigma in the Church: When Mental Illness Is Seen as a Spiritual Failure
Let’s talk about what many Christians quietly wrestle with: the belief that struggling with mental health is a sign of weak faith.
For years, the unspoken message in many churches has been, "If you were really trusting God, you wouldn’t be anxious," or, "If you just prayed more, your depression would lift." Mental health struggles are often spiritualized to the point that they’re stripped of their complexity. The result? People internalize guilt, shame, and silence.
I’ve worked with countless believers who have felt defeated not only by their symptoms but also by the burden of having to pretend everything is okay. They fear judgment. They worry they’ll be seen as ungrateful, sinful, or not spiritually mature enough. So instead of reaching out for help, they hide.
But here’s the truth: Mental illness is not a faith failure. It is not a punishment. It is not a reflection of your spiritual worth or God’s love for you. Depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health conditions often have biological, psychological, and spiritual dimensions. And just like we seek treatment for diabetes or high blood pressure, seeking help for your mental health is an act of wisdom and stewardship.
God made us mind, body, and spirit. And He cares about every part of us.
Stigma in Psychiatry: When Faith Is Dismissed as Delusion
If stigma within the church tells us that faith should be enough to heal mental illness, stigma within psychiatry often tells us that faith is part of the problem.
When I was in school, I once had a professor tell me I was "insane" for believing in Jesus. In clinical settings, I’ve heard colleagues scoff at clients who mention prayer or quote scripture, as if these things automatically indicated psychosis or irrational thinking. It’s heartbreaking.
This kind of dismissiveness doesn’t just alienate Christian patients—it contributes to worse outcomes. For people of faith, belief in God isn’t a side note or superstition. It’s often the foundation of their identity, their support system, and their worldview. Ignoring or minimizing that part of their life doesn’t create safety. It creates distance.
As a provider, I believe clinical excellence and spiritual respect are not mutually exclusive. I bring both into the room because healing is most powerful when people feel safe to bring their full selves—including their faith—into the process.
Faith and Psychiatry Can—and Should—Coexist
I created Transformed Psychiatric Wellness, LLC, because I knew there had to be a better way. A way to offer evidence-based psychiatric care while honoring spiritual values. A way to approach trauma, depression, anxiety, and burnout with both medical insight and deep compassion.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
It looks like beginning sessions with prayer—inviting the Holy Spirit to guide the process.
It looks like offering medication as one tool among many, not as a default or quick fix.
It looks like exploring root causes, including trauma, biology, lifestyle, and spiritual wounds.
It looks like creating space for scripture, worship, and honest conversations about doubt and faith.
It looks like telling a caregiver, a pastor, or a survivor of abuse, "You are not crazy. You are not weak. You are not alone."
As a psychiatric nurse practitioner and someone who has walked through trauma and loss myself, I hold a deep belief: God works through both prayer and Prozac, through pastors and prescribers, through worship and therapy.
We were never meant to heal in isolation. And we were never meant to choose between our faith and our mental health.
What Healing Can Look Like
When we create safe, stigma-free spaces where Christians can seek mental health care, we give people permission to heal holistically. I’ve seen:
Ministry leaders rediscover joy and rest after years of hidden burnout.
Survivors of trauma find peace and safety again, sometimes for the first time.
Teens feel seen and heard without being shamed for their emotions.
Caregivers finally acknowledge their own pain and receive support.
This is what it means to transform lives. Not by pushing people into a mold of what healing "should" look like, but by meeting them where they are—with grace, truth, and clinical expertise.
Let’s End the Stigma—Together
If you’ve ever felt like you had to hide your mental health struggles to be a "good Christian," I want you to hear this: You are not alone. You are not broken. And you do not have to choose between Jesus and getting help.
And if you’ve ever felt dismissed or misunderstood by a mental health provider because of your faith, I want you to know that there are clinicians who will honor your beliefs, your values, and your story.
We need more bridges. More empathy. More providers who understand that faith can be a powerful part of healing—not something to work around.
At Transformed Psychiatric Wellness, I’m here to help you walk that bridge—toward freedom, wholeness, and a renewed mind. Without shame. Without judgment. And without having to leave your faith at the door.
Ready to begin your healing journey? Click here to schedule your complimentary 15-minute consultation.
