Above all do not ever speak of it. Whatever you do, do not acknowledge it. I am a boomer. Boomer pastors believed the lie. Since I was a pastor, inevitably, I believed the lie. The lie was that pastors that struggle with mental health could not seek help. In fact, you can find plenty of articles even now that would suggest that pastors are “unfit” if they are in therapy. Hiding, hypocrisy and denial ruled the day. Pastors need self care. In addition to eating right, getting plenty of sleep and exercise, pastors need somebody to talk to. The script has finally flipped and as a result everybody is better off.
Pastors Were Reluctant to Get Care
Furthermore, pastors with mental health issues would not seek help and subsequently they were reluctant to refer their congregants to counseling. For way too long in the church the mantra was, “You just need more Jesus and more Bible.” Read more. Pray more. Get in step with God’s will. Not surprisingly, pastors are not immune to mental health issues. We now know that they deal with all of the same issues that all people deal with. At the same rate. More Bible and more prayer and more of seeking God’s will has left many pastors mired in depression, anxiety and substance abuse.
Making Its Way to the Pulpit
Pastors are caring for themselves better. They are getting the help they need and subsequently mental health is a topic that is making its way to the pulpit. As a result of pastors talking about mental health and being transparent about their own struggles, thousands of people are finding the comfort and help that they need. I am a Bible guy. I am a Jesus follower. Theologically speaking Jesus is enough, however to overcome some of our hurts, hang-ups, and habits we need to talk to somebody. People need self care. Pastors need self care. I waited sixty years. That was about three decades too long.
