(Source: aframnews)
Every Sunday, the pews are filled. Black churches remain a cornerstone of hope and healing, and for generations, faith has sustained our people through trials. But when it comes to mental health, the numbers show that church alone isn’t enough.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that 1 in 3 Black adults who need mental health care receive it, compared to almost half of White adults. At the same time, suicide among Black youth has climbed at alarming rates, with attempts increasing by nearly 80% in recent decades. Faith may give us strength, but it cannot replace professional care.
Too often, depression, anxiety, or trauma are minimized in our community. People are told to “be strong” or “just pray about it.” But mental illness is not a lack of faith—it is a health condition that needs treatment. We don’t tell someone with high blood pressure to skip the doctor.
We don’t expect prayer alone to cure diabetes. Yet when it comes to the mind, we pretend that prayer is enough.
Therapy, counseling, and access to trained professionals are lifesaving. The problem is, only 4% of psychologists in the U.S. are Black, which means most patients won’t find someone who under- stands their lived experiences. This lack of representation fuels mistrust and keeps many from seeking help.
The solution must be both/ and, not either/or. Our pastors can lead the way by breaking the stigma and encouraging their congregations to seek counseling alongside prayer. Communities can demand more funding for culturally competent care in schools and neighborhoods. Families can normalize talking about therapy as openly as they talk about church.
Because the truth is this:
our faith is strong, but our people are still suffering. Until mental health care becomes as normal in our community as Sunday service, the crisis will only deepen.