Guides
Guides
Practical help for the conversations and questions that matter, written in plain language and checked against current sources.
Faith and healing
What scripture says to people who are hurting, and how faith and care work together.
Is it okay for a Christian to see a counselor or take medication?
Yes. Counseling and medication are good gifts, not a lack of faith. What the Bible, church leaders and the research say about faith and mental health care.
Read →What does the Bible say about anxiety?
Philippians 4:6-7, Matthew 6 and 1 Peter 5:7 in context: what scripture says about worry, how it differs from an anxiety disorder, and why prayer and care go together.
Read →Lament: how to pray when you're not okay
The Psalms of lament (13, 42, 88) and Jesus in Gethsemane show it's okay to pray honestly when you're hurting. A simple four-step lament prayer you can use today.
Read →Depression in the Bible: Elijah, David, Job and Jeremiah
Elijah under the tree, David's tears, Job's lament, Jeremiah's weariness: what looks like depression in the Bible, and how God met each of them with gentleness.
Read →Starting the conversation
Breaking the silence, at home, at school and at church.
How to start a conversation about mental health
What to say, what not to say, and how to listen when you want to talk about mental health with a friend, family member or anyone you care about.
Read →How to talk to your parents about your mental health
A guide for teens: how to tell your parents you're struggling, what to say, what to do if they don't take it seriously, and other trusted adults who can help.
Read →Mental health stigma in the church: what it looks like and what helps
How stigma around mental illness shows up in churches, what Lifeway Research surveys of pastors and churchgoers found, and what pastors and members can do.
Read →Helping someone
What to say, what to do, and how to look after yourself too.
How to help a friend who is struggling with their mental health
Signs a friend may be struggling, how to reach out, what to say, when it's urgent, and how to look after yourself while you support someone.
Read →Warning signs of suicide and how to ask someone directly
The warning signs that someone may be thinking about suicide, how to ask them directly, and the five #BeThe1To steps that help, with 988 and crisis lines.
Read →After a suicide loss: grief, faith and finding support
For anyone grieving someone who died by suicide: what grief can feel like, where to find support from other survivors, and how faith can hold the hard questions.
Read →Everyday mental health
Sleep, screens, stress and the habits that hold us steady.
Is social media bad for teen mental health? What the evidence says
What research really shows about social media, screens and teen mental health, why the evidence is mixed, and calm, practical steps families can take.
Read →How are sleep and mental health connected?
Poor sleep and mental health problems feed each other. Learn how much sleep you need, habits that help, and when trouble sleeping is worth a doctor's visit.
Read →Stress or anxiety? Simple habits that help, and when they aren't enough
How stress differs from anxiety, everyday habits that ease it (movement, time outside, people, rest), a word on Sabbath, and signs it's time to get help.
Read →Starting college: how to look after your mental health
Starting college is exciting and hard. How common struggles are, using campus counseling, finding community and a church, and warning signs to take seriously.
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