Mental Health Crisis and My Call to Hope

September 14, 2025

A Nation in Pain

We are living in one of the most divided times in our nation’s history. This does not help our countries current mental health crisis. Every headline feels heavier than the last: another school shooting, another eruption of hate, another act of violence. Instead of uniting in grief, we point fingers. We blame policies, politicians, or one another. I’ve even watched people celebrate the death of someone who simply held different views.

Assumptions spread like wildfire in our culture. People judge quickly without pausing to listen. If you support the Second Amendment, critics say you care more about guns than children. If you hold to Biblical truth, they label you hateful or narrow-minded. We treat deeply complex issues as if they were black and white, when in reality they hold layers of nuance.

Mental health, politics, faith, and culture demand humility, understanding, and honest conversation. Yet instead of seeking common ground, many choose extremes—digging trenches on opposite sides rather than building bridges in the middle. While we fight one another, our communities fracture, our people suffer, and the mental health crisis grows louder.

Personal Connection

For me, this isn’t just a statistic or a headline—it’s personal. I walked through the wilderness of addiction, trauma, and brokenness. I know the ache of loneliness and the silence of shame. My recovery journey, now seven years sober, led me to pursue counseling. I wanted to understand why so many suffer in silence and how we might discover lasting healing.

The Missing Piece

In my own journey, I discovered something that many in the professional world overlook: faith. Counseling and therapy gave me valuable tools, but my relationship with God brought real transformation. He met me in the darkest places, pulled me out of despair, and gave me hope.

Too often, conversations about mental health dismiss or exclude faith. We treat symptoms but ignore the soul. We teach coping skills but leave people without the anchor of truth. For me, faith wasn’t optional—it was the missing piece.

The Call of God

That’s why God calls me into this work. I feel Him urging me to bring light into the darkness of this crisis and to speak hope to those who feel forgotten. I may be just one person, but with Him, I know ordinary people can step into extraordinary needs.

Psalm 34:18 reminds us: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Isaiah 61:1 declares: “He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted.” These words aren’t just verses on a page—they form a mission.

Encouragement for Readers

The mental health crisis feels overwhelming, but we are not powerless. God still raises up people—parents, teachers, neighbors, counselors, pastors—who make a difference right where they are. You don’t need every answer. You simply need the courage to show up.

So, I’ll leave you with this question: What small step can you take today to be part of the healing our communities so desperately need?

Disclaimer: This post reflects my personal journey of sobriety, faith, and hope in the midst of the mental health crisis. While I am a graduate counseling student working toward licensure, I am not a licensed counselor at this time. The content here is meant to encourage reflection and conversation—it is not professional counseling, diagnosis, or treatment.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, please reach out to a licensed mental health professional in your area. If you are in crisis, call 911 or dial 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S.) for immediate support.

There is always hope, and you do not have to walk through this alone.

With grace and light,

Jess