14 May 2026, 21:46Sharon Platt-McDonald, BUC Health, Adventist Community Services and Women’s Ministries Director
Faith Enhances Mental Health
“He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).
Mental Health Awareness Week 2026, observed from 11-17 May under the theme ‘Action: for yourself, for someone else, for all of us’, focuses on taking practical action to support positive mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Explaining the theme, the Mental Health Foundation states on its website:
“We’ve chosen Action as this year’s theme for Mental Health Awareness Week because, while awareness is vital, real change comes when we take action too. Together, we’ve come a long way on mental health, but we can’t risk going backwards. There’s still much we can do to prevent people becoming unwell in the first place.”¹
Taking Action Through Faith
An increasing number of studies continue to highlight the positive relationship between faith and mental wellbeing. The National Library of Medicine published findings from a study titled ‘Religiosity and spirituality in the prevention and management of depression and anxiety in young people: a systematic review and meta-analysis’.²
“Religion can help foster a personal sense of hope and meaning in life while increasing prosocial, community-oriented attitudes and behaviours… Furthermore, religious and spiritual beliefs can contribute to positive mental health through mechanisms such as religious morality, religious coping, and social connectedness due to shared beliefs.”
These findings have been mirrored through Seventh-day Adventist outreach initiatives, local church ministries, and testimonies shared by members and community visitors alike. Reports have highlighted improvements in emotional wellbeing through faith-based interventions ranging from regular church attendance and supportive fellowship to depression recovery programmes and mental health initiatives organised by local congregations.
One notable initiative launched by the General Conference Health Ministries is the ‘Reminded’ Mental Health Initiative, which aims “to offer a comprehensive mental health programme to minister effectively to the mental needs of people of all ages within and outside the church.” (Adventist Health Ministries Unveils Mental Health Initiative - Adventist Review - Adventist Review)
Within the Scottish Mission, Health Sponsor Pastor Ratko Risteski has hosted a series of seminars throughout Mental Health Awareness Week under the title ‘Mind Matters: Rebuilding Mental and Emotional Wellbeing’. The presentations have been well attended and highly appreciated for their timely, relevant, and informative approach to a range of mental health topics. The spiritual emphasis of the seminars has also highlighted the positive impact of faith and prayer.
Faith Improves Mental Health
An article published on 23 July 2025 by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life carried the title: ‘Faith & Happiness: How Religious Beliefs Shape Britain’s Emotional Wellbeing’.³ Findings from the study, involving 2,068 UK adults, identified several key outcomes:
• Faith boosts life satisfaction
• People of faith reported less worry and greater resilience
• Faith can guard against depression and pessimism
• Faith communities help reduce loneliness
• Faith strengthens a sense of personal agency and control
Spirituality and Mental Health
The Royal College of Psychiatrists has also explored the role of spirituality in mental healthcare. In a leaflet on spirituality and mental health, the organisation states:
“Spirituality can be an important – sometimes a central – part of someone’s life. It can offer real benefits for mental health. People who use mental health services appreciate it when this part of their lives is taken seriously.”⁴
At the same time, researchers caution that negative religious experiences and harmful spiritual environments can adversely affect emotional wellbeing.
“…there is some evidence that those who experience religious or spiritual struggles, including anger with God, negative encounters with other members of their faith community or internal religious guilt or doubt, may be at higher risk of mental health problems.” (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10563335/)
Healing Is Possible
Even where individuals have experienced trauma – whether within church settings or in other areas of life – healing and recovery remain possible through Christian counselling, faith, prayer, and compassionate support.
Psalm 34:18 reminds us: “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed” (NLT).
A Prayer
Dear God,
Our hearts are full of gratitude for the wonderful Counsellor that You are, and for the comfort and healing we receive through Your Word.
Thank You for the beautiful example You have given us in Jesus, who taught us to care for our minds by casting all our cares upon Him because He cares for us.
Please forgive us for the hurts we cause one another. Recover us from words that wound and actions that harm. Bring restoration, we pray.
We embrace the promise of Philippians 4:6–7 which assures us:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Amen.
References/Footnotes
*1 Mental Health Awareness Week | Mental Health Foundation
*2 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10563335/
*4 Spirituality and mental health – Royal College of Psychiatrists
“He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).
Mental Health Awareness Week 2026, observed from 11-17 May under the theme ‘Action: for yourself, for someone else, for all of us’, focuses on taking practical action to support positive mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Explaining the theme, the Mental Health Foundation states on its website:
“We’ve chosen Action as this year’s theme for Mental Health Awareness Week because, while awareness is vital, real change comes when we take action too. Together, we’ve come a long way on mental health, but we can’t risk going backwards. There’s still much we can do to prevent people becoming unwell in the first place.”¹
Taking Action Through Faith
An increasing number of studies continue to highlight the positive relationship between faith and mental wellbeing. The National Library of Medicine published findings from a study titled ‘Religiosity and spirituality in the prevention and management of depression and anxiety in young people: a systematic review and meta-analysis’.²
“Religion can help foster a personal sense of hope and meaning in life while increasing prosocial, community-oriented attitudes and behaviours… Furthermore, religious and spiritual beliefs can contribute to positive mental health through mechanisms such as religious morality, religious coping, and social connectedness due to shared beliefs.”
These findings have been mirrored through Seventh-day Adventist outreach initiatives, local church ministries, and testimonies shared by members and community visitors alike. Reports have highlighted improvements in emotional wellbeing through faith-based interventions ranging from regular church attendance and supportive fellowship to depression recovery programmes and mental health initiatives organised by local congregations.
One notable initiative launched by the General Conference Health Ministries is the ‘Reminded’ Mental Health Initiative, which aims “to offer a comprehensive mental health programme to minister effectively to the mental needs of people of all ages within and outside the church.” (Adventist Health Ministries Unveils Mental Health Initiative - Adventist Review - Adventist Review)
Within the Scottish Mission, Health Sponsor Pastor Ratko Risteski has hosted a series of seminars throughout Mental Health Awareness Week under the title ‘Mind Matters: Rebuilding Mental and Emotional Wellbeing’. The presentations have been well attended and highly appreciated for their timely, relevant, and informative approach to a range of mental health topics. The spiritual emphasis of the seminars has also highlighted the positive impact of faith and prayer.
Faith Improves Mental Health
An article published on 23 July 2025 by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life carried the title: ‘Faith & Happiness: How Religious Beliefs Shape Britain’s Emotional Wellbeing’.³ Findings from the study, involving 2,068 UK adults, identified several key outcomes:
• Faith boosts life satisfaction
• People of faith reported less worry and greater resilience
• Faith can guard against depression and pessimism
• Faith communities help reduce loneliness
• Faith strengthens a sense of personal agency and control
Spirituality and Mental Health
The Royal College of Psychiatrists has also explored the role of spirituality in mental healthcare. In a leaflet on spirituality and mental health, the organisation states:
“Spirituality can be an important – sometimes a central – part of someone’s life. It can offer real benefits for mental health. People who use mental health services appreciate it when this part of their lives is taken seriously.”⁴
At the same time, researchers caution that negative religious experiences and harmful spiritual environments can adversely affect emotional wellbeing.
“…there is some evidence that those who experience religious or spiritual struggles, including anger with God, negative encounters with other members of their faith community or internal religious guilt or doubt, may be at higher risk of mental health problems.” (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10563335/)
Healing Is Possible
Even where individuals have experienced trauma – whether within church settings or in other areas of life – healing and recovery remain possible through Christian counselling, faith, prayer, and compassionate support.
Psalm 34:18 reminds us: “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed” (NLT).
A Prayer
Dear God,
Our hearts are full of gratitude for the wonderful Counsellor that You are, and for the comfort and healing we receive through Your Word.
Thank You for the beautiful example You have given us in Jesus, who taught us to care for our minds by casting all our cares upon Him because He cares for us.
Please forgive us for the hurts we cause one another. Recover us from words that wound and actions that harm. Bring restoration, we pray.
We embrace the promise of Philippians 4:6–7 which assures us:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Amen.
References/Footnotes
*1 Mental Health Awareness Week | Mental Health Foundation
*2 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10563335/
*4 Spirituality and mental health – Royal College of Psychiatrists
