Too often, mental health is studied with very limited perspectives and not considered holistically enough. As we mark Mental Health Awareness Week, I have sought to draw on nearly two decades of psychiatric experience as an NHS doctor and frame it within the Christian worldview.
Below are seven key takeaways for sustainable and enduring mental health and spiritual vitality. My aim is threefold: to encourage a wise approach, to offer practical guidance for protecting mental health, and to point to the realistic and real enduring hope we have in Christ.
1. Put God first
Jesus calls us to seek first His kingdom, while the Westminster Catechism reminds us that our primary goal in life is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. A right understanding of who God is – and who we are in relation to Him – is foundational. Prioritising our sense of meaning and purpose through a trusting relationship with God through Scripture, prayer and church life provides the deepest and greatest stability for the mind and heart.
2. Invest in human relationships
We have been designed and created to be relational. This means that we find fulfilment and purpose through human relationships, especially and essentially ones which are face-to-face. The people with whom we spend the most time shape and influence us, reminding us of the importance of having trustworthy and godly people that are sufficiently close. We are all called into different families, work contexts and callings, but we can be salt and light to our own unique networks by prioritising the people and by nurturing, building and protecting human relationships in our lives.
3. See life through a biblical lens
In a world of suffering, pain, uncertainty and unpredictability, life can be both difficult and traumatic. We live in a fallen world which is marred by trauma, abuse, neglect and much conflict. We all – Christians included – suffer relationally, psychologically and spiritually. Yet there remains the possibility of growth, restoration and hope when we view things through a biblical lens and when life is built upon Christ. Holocaust survivor and psychiatrist Viktor Frankl identified that the three key elements for human psychological flourishing are: a belief in something greater than oneself, loving community and a redemptive (transformed) understanding of one’s past.
We all – Christians included”
4. Prioritise rest and reflection
In a world that is fast-moving, frenetic and often chaotic, we need deep rest. This goes beyond a superficial switch-off. Understanding how we relate to others, for example, our personal balance of extroversion or introversion, is key here, because we derive our mental recharging of energy in different ways. In any case, we all need to spend time with God, and in prayer, sufficient time for peaceful contemplation and intentional reflection really helps. Helping to bring order out of chaos is easier when we are rested.
5.  Body care
A holistic approach means recognising the link between body and mind. There are some obvious but really important practical things here. We should avoid harmful substances such as illicit drugs, keep alcohol consumption low, caffeine mild to moderate, maintain a nutritious and balanced diet (wherever possible), and engage in regular, moderate exercise. Paul wrote that there is value in bodily exercise and that wise stewardship of the body matters (1 Timothy 4:8). Often, these protective steps are a very effective and natural anti-depressant régime. Indeed, exercise might be significantly better than prescribed psychotropic medication in cases of mild to moderate anxiety and depression.
We all need to spend time with God, and in prayer, sufficient time for peaceful contemplation and intentional reflection really helps.”
6. Guard your mind
If we are what we eat in a physical sense, we are also what we consume in a mental sense. We must be discerning in terms of what we expose ourselves to. In a noisy world competing for our attention, we need to be intentional to think on things which are virtuous (Philippians 4:8), and that is scarcely the underpinning consideration of social media algorithms which prioritise outcry, controversy and extremity. God calls us to engage with the world, and we certainly can​’t do that if we become hermits or cut off from reality. Yet we can ask ourselves some key questions. Does the content we consume draw me nearer to Christ or further from Him? Is this content life-giving or life-draining, and does it build wisdom, psychological resilience and emotional intelligence, and encourage a love for others?
7. Gratitude, with compassion and curiosity
We all need an attitude of gratitude – a heart orientated towards thankfulness, full of compassion. We need to give thanks in all things and draw joy from our relationship with Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:18). To count our mercies as well as our blessings. We can take these for granted if we do not consciously consider them and apply them with gratitude to our lives. A future-orientated curiosity as to what God will do next, and sincere interest in life helps. Of course, there are times when we may feel overwhelmed; yet even in our darkest moments, God continues to love us and he promises to hold onto us even when we just can’t hold onto Him.
Mental health is shaped by so many factors, and we must look at things holistically. There are many things which we don’t or can’t control: our genetics, our backgrounds and many of life’s circumstances. Yet that doesn’t mean that we are without agency or responsibility. Within the mystery of God’s providence, we are called to live wisely, faithfully and intentionally, and for the Christian, there remains a sure and living hope.
