The Black Church’s Role in Mental and Emotional Health

WHEN JESUS SAYS, WE ARE TO LOVE GOD WITH OUR MINDS, DOESN'T THAT IMPLY THAT MENTAL HEALTH IS BOTH A WORSHIP AND DISCIPLESHIP ISSUE?

Black tragedy has inevitably led to Black trauma. From slavery, to sharecropping, to Jim Crow, to mass incarceration, to the everyday struggles we face in America, the myriad of challenges we’ve encountered deeply impact our individual and collective wellness of mind.

Thankfully, the stigmas around mental health are beginning to lift in Black communities. Younger generations have “pushed the envelope” and insisted we lean into important, yet uncomfortable conversations. More organizations, such as NAMI and 988 Lifeline have cropped up and helped to normalize issues of mental health. However, in this era of renewed white nationalism, political disenfranchisement, and xenophobic hostilities, more intentional work must be done.

What role does the Black Church play in promoting mental and emotional well-being? How can Black churches contribute to the mental and emotional well-being of their members?

Catch the entire conversation here.