“Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” — John 8:31b–32
Mental Health Awareness Month isn’t just about awareness, but also about what we believe.
Some believe mental health challenges are a sign of weakness or a lack of faith. Others assume it will never affect them. And some are quietly walking through it right now, often without support.
But what if this month became something more?
What if it became an opportunity to be honest?
1. Be honest about the struggle
Many people find it difficult to ask for help or even admit they are facing mental health challenges. We often feel like we have to hold everything together.
The tension is real: walking through mental health challenges can feel like both the worst and best place to be: the worst because of the struggle, but the best because it can become a place where God meets us and walks with us through it.
As Matthew West writes in “Truth Be Told,” “I’m fine… but I’m not. I’m broken.”
It’s humbling to admit when we’re struggling. But struggling doesn’t mean we are broken.
2. Recognize the voice of shame
Shame is what you say to yourself about yourself.
It’s that quiet whisper that tells you:
- You’re not good enough
- You’re unworthy
- You’re damaged
But God made you as you are. There was no mistake.
Shame tells us to stay silent. It tells us we don’t need help or that we’re wrong for needing it. So, instead of being honest with others about our struggles, we keep things to ourselves.
3. Replace lies with truth
“The Truth” by Megan Woods reminds us: “I don’t belong to the lies…I belong to You.”
When we don’t know the truth or want to face it, believing a lie becomes easier. Over time, those lies can begin to shape how we see ourselves.
But Scripture tells us:
The question isn’t whether truth exists; it’s whether we believe it.
What are the lies you’ve been believing? And what truth in Scripture does God speak over them?
4. Don’t walk through it alone
We were never meant to face suffering alone.
Another lyric from “Truth Be Told” says the church should be more like a hospital, and it’s true. Every one of us needs healing in some way. We need Jesus, our Savior and Great Physician. But we also need people and support.
Sometimes that looks like:
- trusted friends
- wise counsel
- professional help
- or even medication
No two experiences with mental health challenges are the same. But we all need support.
Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of strength.
5. Take steps toward healing
So often, struggles like anxiety or depression are reduced to a “faith issue.” But while faith plays a role, it isn’t the only one. Healing is often both spiritual and practical.
When we draw near to God, he draws near to us, and sometimes his nearness shows up through the support, tools, and people he places in our lives.
Life can sometimes feel like heavy traffic, full of detours. But even there, God is present.
What would it look like to take one honest step toward healing today?
6. Remember your identity
What you’re facing is not your identity.
There will be suffering in this world. Some of that suffering may include significant mental health challenges, but those challenges do not define your worth. You are human. And you are completely loved by God.
Don’t let shame convince you that you are more or less valuable because of what you’ve faced.
7. Live anchored in truth
God welcomes us every day, just as we are. The more we sit in his truth, the more we begin to recognize it, and the less power shame has over us.
That doesn’t happen all at once. It happens daily.
If you’re unsure how to bring your struggles to God, the First 15 Christian Prayers for Mental Health are a simple place to start. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or unsure of what to say, these prayers can help you connect with God and anchor yourself in truth, one day at a time.
A final encouragement
Mental Health Awareness Month may only come once a year, but many people carry these challenges every day.
As believers, we have the opportunity to:
- be honest
- stand in the gap
- and reflect the love of Christ
And sometimes, that begins with one simple step: Asking for help, and refusing to let shame have the final word.
Ashley Davis, M.A., LPC, is a licensed professional counselor based in Dallas, Texas, where she practices with Taylor Counseling Group. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Texas at Dallas and her master’s from Dallas Baptist University. Ashley is EMDR-trained and has experience across inpatient, outpatient, private practice, and nonprofit settings. She works with teens and adults, using approaches like CBT, DBT, EMDR, and a Christian, faith-based perspective to support clients through anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, life transitions, and more. Through Taylor Counseling Group—known for providing affordable mental healthcare across Texas—Ashley is passionate about creating a safe, judgment-free space where clients can build coping skills, process their experiences, and discover their value and identity.
