Christian Care and Mental Health
A Series of Articles designed to help Christians understand the various components of mental
health and support those with mental health needs.
© February, 2000 by Rev. Daniel Krueger ~ author of “Gospel Therapy” www.Gospeltherapy.com
Mental Health Is Not Just about Medication.
(Mark 12:30 NIV) “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”
Our relationship to God is not just a matter of the mind, but of heart, soul, mind, and strength. God designed us as an integrated whole, with each part of us influencing and acting upon another. Mental stress impacts the health of our bodies, and conversely, poor care for our bodies impacts our minds. For instance, a poor night’s sleep alters our ability to concentrate and learn, and can turn a normally happy go lucky person into a morning grouch.
Unfortunately, when dealing with mental health issues, many people address only one piece of the puzzle. Roughly 90% of all people being treated for depression or anxiety use a medication only approach. Several recent studies have confirmed that treating depression with medication alone results in a relapse rate of roughly 75% to 85%, while treating depression with specific forms of talk therapy and medication drops that rate to the 25% to 35% range. These studies suggest that in many cases medication is treating the symptoms of various mental health disorders, without addressing the real causes.
In addition to therapy, improved sleep habits, a regular exercise routine, improved diet including diets rich in Omega 3 fats (the type you get in fish) and low in other fats, light therapy, are just some of body centered activities which have been shown to impact all kinds of mental health issues including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, and ADD (ADHD). For some individuals, changes in these areas have allowed them to live their lives free of medication.
No one should ever go off a prescribed medication without consulting a physician. Some mental health issues are more profoundly affected by changes in the areas mentioned above than others. However, modern medical research increasingly shows that medication is not the only answer to poor mental health. It may be a piece in the puzzle of addressing mental health issues, but as Christians we recognize that we are more than individual pieces of body, mind, or soul.
While historically most religions believe in an immortality of the soul, Christianity is one of a very few religions that believes in an after life that includes the body. God doesn’t redeem only parts of us. God redeems us through Christ as body, mind, and spirit united into one person. God treats the whole person, not just parts, and when it comes to mental health, so should we.
