By Trenten Jackson
“Dad, am I my mind controlling my body? Or a body, but I also have a mind?
And where does the soul fit in?”
These are questions I was fielding unexpectedly one evening at my kitchen counter when talking to my precociously thoughtful and bright 12-year-old son. Having just graduated seminary—and recently researched this very topic—I felt both prepared to convey my thoughts on the subject and aware of how insufficient my answers still were to convey such mysteries. As best I could, I explained to him that my belief in personhood can be found in the inseparable unity of body, mind, and soul – and this is one way in which our Trinitarian God created us in His image[1].
This conception of personhood brings to light a reality I believe needs attention – we don’t receive the same level of care for each of these things as we should. In fact, I believe the care available for our mental health is the most lacking of these three (physical, mental, spiritual). Even when the mind is impaired or struggling, it remains a sacred part of our God-given identity and dignity – not something that determines our worth, but something with inherent worth that should be cared for. Many in the U.S. have at least some access to basic physical healthcare, and there is broad freedom to pursue spiritual growth through religion. But mental healthcare still faces more barriers than it should if we are to truly pursue flourishing of body, mind, and soul.
Of the many barriers, I think there are two primary barriers today limiting people from receiving the mental healthcare they need: access and stigma. Research indicates mental illness is the most common disability among Americans, citing 20% of adults and 17% of adolescents experience some form of mental illness annually. With such staggering percentages, we find ourselves with 529 individuals in need of care for each mental health practitioner[2]. And even if there were enough providers to meet the need, the heavy stigma around seeking mental healthcare limits many from pursuing help in the first place. Stigmatization is a particularly large issue within the church, with one study indicating 91% of people believe mental health is stigmatized within the church[3].
To move beyond these barriers, action from both inside and outside of our church walls is needed. From inside, our churches need to work to reduce the stigma around mental health through increased dialogue and vulnerability, training of church leaders in essential baseline care, and seeking to provide a holistic view of personhood as body, mind, and spirit. We can also empower lay leaders with mental health literacy, create peer-support spaces, and partner with professionals to bridge gaps. Outside the church walls, we can engage our community and support resources that promote mental healthcare while also seeking reforms that remove access barriers between people and the care they need.
We all exist as broken image-bearers of our Creator, but our God desires reconciliation of that image. This work won’t be completed this side of eternity, but God’s people can seek to work toward reconciliation now.
[1] Important to note, however, is that diminished capacity in one of these three areas does not mean diminished personhood or dignity. Those with disabilities are no less persons but may have greater need of care and support.
[2] “Mental Illness: The Most Common Disability,” Special Needs Alliance, April 1, 2020, https://www.specialneedsalliance.org/blog/mental-illness-is-the-most-common-disability/.
[3] Tim Wyatt, “91% of Christians Say Mental Illness Is Stigmatised in the Church. But the Solution May Be Simpler than You Think,” Premier Christianity, April 26, 2022, https://www.premierchristianity.com/news-analysis/91-of-christians-say-mental-illness-is-stigmatised-in-the-church-but-the-solution-may-be-simpler-than-you-think/12924.article.
You may contact Trenten Jackson at . tjackson@imagodeicc.ch .