The Suppression of Depression: Addressing the Stigma of Depression Among Christians

Marion Wright Jr MD

Sept. 2019 · Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.

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Some Christians experience a degree of internal conflict when it comes to seeking help for medical issues. On one hand, they believe in God for their healing. On the other, they acknowledge that they are dealing with symptoms and conditions that could be treated by medical professionals. The challenge then becomes reconciling their faith with their efforts to be well and healthy. From my observations, there have been great strides in Christian thinking regarding seeking help for physical health problems. However, this does not seem to be the case when it comes to mental health issues including depression. From my professional experiences as a psychiatrist and in my personal walk as a Christian, I have observed what appears to be a stigma when it comes to depression. Some Christians may believe that they should never be depressed, and if they are, it indicates some failure of their faith or weakness thereof. Some feel embarrassed about having depression and, therefore, are reluctant to seek help for it, if they do at all. They may feel that the very act of seeking professional help also indicates weakness in their faith. Therefore, they resolve to deal with depression strictly by spiritual means e.g. prayer and Bible reading. In this book, I address this stigma that exists among Christians when it comes to depression. My intention is to dispel myths about depression and to get people to understand that it is a condition to which we are all vulnerable. I also hope to increase people's understanding of God's will that we have healthy minds as well as healthy bodies. Depression need not be a condition that people deal with in silence given that there is help available for it.