5 Myths That Keep Christians from Getting Help for Mental Health

By Brian Briscoe, M.D.

For many Christians, seeking help for mental health feels like walking a tightrope—trying to honor God, trust Scripture, and yet admit that something feels wrong deep inside. Sadly, far too many believers suffer silently because of well-meaning but misguided beliefs that block them from getting the help they need.

Here are five common myths that keep Christians from pursuing care—and the truth that can set us free.

Myth #1: “If I just had more faith, I wouldn’t be struggling.”

This is perhaps the most pervasive—and painful—myth. It equates emotional suffering with spiritual failure, as if anxiety, depression, or intrusive thoughts are signs that we are not “trusting God enough.”

But Scripture paints a different picture. Elijah, after witnessing God’s power on Mount Carmel, collapses under the weight of despair and asks God to take his life (1 Kings 19). David’s psalms are filled with cries of anguish, fear, and sorrow. Jesus Himself was “a man of sorrows” and “acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3).

Faith is not the absence of suffering. Faith is the decision to cling to Christ in the midst of it.

Myth #2: “I should be able to handle this on my own.”

This quiet assumption often keeps believers isolated. Many Christians believe that if they were stronger, prayed more consistently, or simply pushed through, the distress would resolve on its own.

But Scripture doesn’t teach rugged individualism—it teaches interdependence. Paul reminds us that we are part of the body of Christ and are meant to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). Seeking help—whether from pastors, mentors, medical professionals, or trusted counselors—is not a betrayal of faith. It’s an act of humility and wisdom.

God often provides healing through community and through others who are equipped to walk with us.

Myth #3: “Mental illness is just a result of unconfessed sin.”

There is no doubt that sin can affect our minds and relationships. But to assume that every case of mental illness is the result of moral failure is neither biblically sound nor clinically accurate.

Jesus rejected this kind of thinking when His disciples asked about the man born blind: “Who sinned, this man or his parents?” Jesus answered, “Neither… but that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:2–3).

Mental health struggles can arise from a variety of influences—trauma, grief, spiritual stress, medical conditions, neurobiological vulnerabilities, or a complex mix of factors. The presence of suffering does not imply guilt. Sometimes, the most faithful thing a Christian can do is to humbly seek healing, even when the cause of suffering is unclear.

Myth #4: “Medication is a crutch—real Christians don’t need it.”

This myth often springs from a desire to rely on God alone. But we don’t take this approach with other medical issues. When someone has diabetes, we don’t shame them for taking insulin. When a child has asthma, we don’t ask them to throw away their inhaler and “just pray harder.”

Why, then, do we treat mental health differently?

Medication, when used appropriately and under the guidance of a physician, is not a sign of spiritual weakness. It is a tool—one that can help create the internal stability needed to engage meaningfully with therapy, community, and God’s Word.

Myth #5: “Getting help makes me a bad witness.”

Some fear that acknowledging anxiety, depression, or intrusive thoughts might “hurt their testimony.” But hiding pain behind a mask of perfection isn’t the witness Christ calls us to.

Paul boasted in his weakness so that “the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Our stories of struggle and redemption—the mess and the mercy—are exactly what the world needs to see. They point not to our strength, but to the sustaining grace of Christ.

A Better Way Forward

If you or someone you love is struggling, you are not alone—and you are not failing God. Mental health struggles are not a sign of spiritual collapse. They are a reminder that we live in a fallen world, and that healing often comes through both prayer and process, through both Scripture and support.

As Christians, we don’t have to choose between faith and mental health care. We can hold both. We can seek the help we need—while resting in the One who has already secured our ultimate healing.

About Dr. Briscoe

Dr. Brian Briscoe is a board-certified psychiatrist and the founder of Next Step 4 Mental Health, a private practice in Louisville, Kentucky.

He is passionate about integrating clinical excellence with a thoughtful, respectful approach to faith. Dr. Briscoe works with individuals across a wide range of concerns, including anxiety, OCD, and mood disorders, and has a special interest in helping Christians navigate mental health through a gospel-centered lens.

He previously served as Chair of the Psychiatry Section of the Christian Medical & Dental Associations.