Rev. Dr. Bridgette V. Gloster, Emmanuel AME Church, "Breaking the Silence: Embracing Mental Health in Faith Communities"
Breaking the Silence: Embracing Mental Health in Faith Communities --Rev. Dr. Bridgette V. Gloster Silence is not always golden. All too frequently within communities of faith, mental health challenges are treated as the “unspoken burden.” Too many of our members suffer through the pains of depression, anxiety, and despair in silence, believing that their inability to lift themselves from the “miry clay” is the result of deficient faith. As faith leaders and sojourners on this spiritual journey, we must embrace the fact that our mental health is as much a part of our overall well-being as our physical health. Without question, addressing mental health concerns within our communities of faith is both a spiritual and practical necessity. The Bible reminds us that God cares deeply about our entire being, including our mental and emotional health. In 3 John 1:2, the apostle writes, “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul pro...