
If you are struggling in your mental health as a Christian, you are not alone. Anxiety, Depression, and other disorders of the mind require professional and medical attention, and there is no shame in reaching out for the help you need. I’ve put together a list of resources to support you on your journey of loving Jesus while living with chronic physical, emotional, and mental illness.
Below are a list of resources I’ve gathered to help you take your next step in your mental, emotional and spiritual health.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
Or TEXT with someone at the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out for help if you are having suicidal thoughts. You are not alone. You do not need to feel ashamed. But you DO need to reach out for help.
WEBSITES
- National Alliance of Mental Health https://nami.org/Home
- Depression + Bipolar Support Alliance https://www.dbsalliance.org/
- Anxiety + Depression Association of America https://adaa.org/
- American Association of Christian Counselors: https://connect.aacc.net/?search_type=distance
- Focus on the Family Mental Health Resources: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/get-help/mental-health-resources/
- SoulGrit Resources: https://soulgritresources.com/
- SLEEP HEALTH (A Guide to Sleeping with Coronavirus Anxiety) https://bestsleephealth.com/anxiety/
- What You Need to Know About Insomnia https://healthmatch.io/insomnia
- Mental Health and Mesothelioma (Help for patients in cancer treatment facing depressed mood and anxiety) https://www.asbestos.com/support/mental-health/
ARTICLES ON MENTAL HEALTH + FAITH
- I Love Jesus But I Want to Die: What You Need to Know About Suicide
- Desiring God: How to Fight for Faith in the Dark
- To the Depressed Christian
BOOKS ON EMOTIONAL/MENTAL HEALTH
- Unglued: Making Wise Choices in the Midst of Raw Emotions
by Lysa TerKeurst - The Inner Voice of Love: A Journey Through Anguish to Freedom
by Henri J. M. Nouwen - Walking on Water When You Feel Like You’re Drowning: Finding Hope in Life’s Darkest Moments
by Tommy Nelson and Steve Leavitt - Anger: Handling a Powerful Emotion in a Healthy Way
updated version Anger: Taming A Powerful Emotion
by Gary Chapman - Broken Crayons Still Color: From Our Mess to God’s Masterpiece
by Shelley Hitz - The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are
by Brené Brown - Overcome Depression: Strategies from Science & Scripture
by Margaret Lalich
BOOKS ON SPIRITUAL HEALTH
- The Knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God: Their Meaning in the Christian Life
by A.W. Tozer - Sacred Pathways: Discover Your Soul’s Path to God
by Gary Thomas - Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: It’s Impossible to Be Spiritually Mature, While Remaining Emotionally Immature
by Peter Scazzero - God’s Many Voices: Learning to Listen. Expectant to Hear
by Liz Ditty - Anatomy of the Soul: Surprising Connections between Neuroscience and Spiritual Practices That Can Transform Your Life and Relationships
by Curt Thompson - Practicing Our Faith: A Way of Life for a Searching People
by Dorothy C. Bass - An Extreme God for an Extreme Life
by April Chapman
BOOKS ON IDENTITY/PHYSICAL HEALTH
- Fit For The Calling: A 6-Week Faith & Fitness Journey
by Jennette Holzworth - Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God, Not Food
by Lysa TerKeurst - I Am: A 60-Day Journey to Knowing Who You Are Because of Who He Is
by Michele Cushatt - You Are Free: Be Who You Already Are
by Rebekah Lyons - Of Mess and Moxie: Wrangling Delight Out of This Wild and Glorious Life
by Jen Hatmaker - Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free
by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth
BOOKS ON RELATIONAL HEALTH
- Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself
by Melanie Beattie - Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No To Take Control of Your Life
by Drs Henry Cloud and John Townsend - 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
by Stephen Covey - Becoming Us: Using the Enneagram to Create a Thriving Gospel-Centered Marriage
by Beth and Jeff McCord
BOOKS ON PARENTING/CHILD DEVELOPMENT
- The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind
by Daniel J. Siegel - Siblings Without Rivalry: How to Help Your Children Live Together So You Can Live Too
by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish - Effective Parenting in a Defective World
by Chip Ingram - Are My Kids on Track?: The 12 Emotional, Social, and Spiritual Milestones Your Child Needs to Reach
by Sissy Goff (Author), Melissa Mre Trevathan (Contributor), David Lmsw Thomas (Contributor) - Boundaries with Kids: How Healthy Choices Grow Healthy Children
by Drs Henry Cloud and John Townsend - A Family Shaped By Grace
by Gary Moreland
BOOKS ON MENTAL + EMOTIONAL HEALTH for Adults
- The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook by Edmund J. Bourne PhD
- Walking on Water When You Feel Like You’re Drowning: Finding Hope in Life’s Darkest Moments by Tommy Nelson + Steve Leavitt
- Postpartum Depression For Dummies by Shoshana S. Bennett
- When God Doesn’t Make Sense by James C. Dobson
- Finding Contentment by Neil Clark Warren
- Switch On Your Brain: The Key to Peak Happiness, Thinking, and Health by Dr. Caroline Leaf
- How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegi
- Feeling Good the New Mood Therapy by David Burns, M.D.
- The Emotionally Healthy Woman: Eight Things You Have to Quit to Change Your Life by Geri Scazzero + Peter Scazzero
- Overcoming Fear, Worry, and Anxiety: Becoming a Woman of Faith and Confidence by Elyse M. Fitzpatrick
- Finding Quiet: My Story of Overcoming Anxiety and the Practices that Brought Peace by James Porter Moreland
- When God Doesn’t Fix It: Lessons You Never Wanted to Learn, Truths You Can’t Live Without by Laura Story
- Hope and Help for Your Nerves by Claire Weekes
- Changes That Heal: Four Practical Steps to a Happier, Healthier You by Henry Cloud
- Glorious Weakness: Discovering God in All We Lack by Alia Joy
- The Broken Way: A Daring Path into the Abundant Life by Ann Voskamp
DEVOTIONALS/BIBLE STUDIES TO HELP WITH ANXIETY + DEPRESSION
- Anxiety: Knowing God’s Peace by Paul Tautges
- Calm My Anxious Heart: A Woman’s Guide to Finding Contentment by Linda Dillow
- Whispers of Rest: 40 Days of God’s Love to Revitalize Your Soul by Bonnie Gray
PODCASTS
- By Faith podcast In whatever we’re doing—working, parenting, serving, suffering—it can be difficult sometimes to see through the fog of the circumstances of life and to know with confidence that God is there, that He’s working in us, and that He’s working through us. How do we live this life by faith? In “By Faith,” author and blogger Christine Hoover asks this big picture question by getting into the details and daily lives of her guests: men and women who are walking forward by faith. Hosted by Christine Hoover.
- SoulGrit podcast: Christians need a place to ask questions and get answers about mental health. Join Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Jesus lover Ann Taylor McNiece for fun and encouraging episodes that make counseling a real option for Christ-followers.
- CXMH podcast: We bring together faith leaders with mental health professionals for honest conversations. Hosted by Robert Vore & Dr. Holly Oxhandler
- Anthem of Hope podcast: A weekly podcast dedicated to sharing real stories from real people on topics such as: hope, faith, doubt, life, and mental health.
- Proverbs 31 Podcast: Therapy & Theology 6-week series: Lysa TerKeurst dives deep into conversation with her personal, licensed professional counselor Jim Cress, as well as Proverbs 31 Ministries director of theology, Joel Muddamalle.
- In this series, you’ll learn how to…
- Overcome the feeling that you’ll never get over the hurt you’re facing by recognizing small steps you can take to get through the hurt, little by little.
- Replace the negative stigma of “therapy” by gaining a healthy, biblical view of counseling for your situation.
- Move toward healing today by discovering the two distinct and necessary parts of forgiveness and how to live them out.
- Find hope in the midst of devastating circumstances by seeking restoration for yourself through prayer and proven exercises to help you process your pain.
- In this series, you’ll learn how to…
