The Pastor with Bipolar: Reintroducing Dave Quak and Sunburnt Souls – One Year On
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The Pastor with Bipolar: Reintroducing Dave Quak and Sunburnt Souls – One Year On
Sunburnt Souls has been creating space for raw, honest conversations about faith and mental health for over a year now. Hosted by Dave Quak, a pastor living with bipolar disorder, this podcast explores the messiness of life, the highs and lows of mental illness, and how Jesus meets us in the midst of it all.
In this special episode, Amelia Rees takes over as host and turns the mic back on Dave to reflect on the past year. From the reality of dysphoric mania to navigating ministry and mental health, this episode is packed with insights, struggles, and victories.
Whether you’ve been following Sunburnt Souls from the start or you’re just discovering it now, this is an unfiltered deep dive into the journey of a pastor embracing both his calling and his condition.
What You’ll Discover in This Episode:
A Year in Review – How Sunburnt Souls has grown, and the impact it’s having on people navigating faith and mental health.
What is Dysphoric Mania? – A raw look at this lesser-known aspect of bipolar disorder and how it affects faith, relationships, and daily life.
Weight Gain, Medication, and the Struggle – The real effects of mental health medication, including how Seroquel causes extreme hunger.
Crazy Life Moments – Why spontaneous decisions and impulsivity still show up, even with self-awareness.
The Influence of Carrie Fisher – The late Star Wars actress was an outspoken advocate for bipolar disorder—what can we learn from her?
Sunburnt Souls on the Radio – The podcast is now airing on multiple radio stations across Australia, reaching more people than ever.
5 Key Takeaways for Listeners – Actionable insights for those navigating faith, mental illness, and personal growth.
How to grow in your faith and mental wellbeing?
If you’ve ever felt like faith and mental illness don’t mix, this episode will challenge that notion. Jesus is present in every season—whether manic, depressed, or somewhere in between.
Subscribe now to Sunburnt Souls on your favourite podcast platform.
Follow us on social media for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more.
Support the mission of Sunburnt Souls—whether through prayer, financial giving, or simply sharing the podcast with a friend.
Amelia Rees
We're highlighting sunburnt souls today! I'm here with Dave for our annual check-in and catch-up. Let’s see what’s been going on over the past year. So, Dave, hi! Welcome to your own podcast.
Dave Quak
Thank you! It’s lovely to be here.
Amelia Rees
How have you been? What’s been happening over the last year?
Dave Quak
A lot, honestly. I’ve been looking forward to this update. I think we’ll make this a yearly thing to catch up on everything. The podcast is now a year old, which is exciting. How have I been? Well, and this might sound cliché coming from someone with bipolar, but life’s been really up and down.
Amelia Rees
That sounds about right. Let’s start with the highs—what’s been going well?
Dave Quak
Looking at the last two years, some highs include seeing the fruit of this podcast. I often get texts from people saying they listened to an episode and found it helpful, or they saw something I posted on Facebook that really resonated. Those moments are definitely highlights.
I’ve also learned so much about myself and bipolar as a condition. I’ve done a lot of research, which has been enriching. Jess, my wife, has been diving into it with me, and together we’ve grown in our understanding. It’s been rewarding to see personal growth and deeper insights, even though we’re not as far along as I’d hoped.
Amelia Rees
Do you think that’s because your expectations were a bit high?
Dave Quak
Maybe. It probably depends on where I was in the bipolar cycle when I set those goals. But the truth is, this condition is incredibly hard to live with. There are waves of relief and moments of amazement, but also stretches of struggle. I’ve been coming off a couple of months of tough times, and that’s probably influencing my perspective right now. But over the year, there’s definitely been a lot of challenges.
Amelia Rees
What’s been the biggest challenge for you?
Dave Quak
The complexity of it all. Bipolar is a rollercoaster—ups and downs, mania, and depression. But this past season, I’ve experienced something called dysphoric mania a few times.
What is Dysphoric Mania?
It’s a hybrid state where you have the energy and restlessness of mania but paired with the darkness and irritability of depression. Normally, mania feels euphoric—you’re energised, creative, and full of ideas. But with dysphoric mania, you have that same manic energy, but it’s coupled with feelings of anger, sadness, or frustration.
It’s been brutal. I had dark thoughts—not suicidal, but disturbing. For example, I’d daydream about someone trying to kiss Jess so I’d have an excuse to retaliate violently. It was a bizarre, almost primal need for justified aggression. I even blogged about it on the website, trying to process and articulate those feelings.
Amelia Rees
That sounds intense. How did God help you navigate that?
Dave Quak
God’s been good. I feel Jesus with me just as tangibly in my aggressive, dark moments as I do when I’m euphoric and light. My response to Him changes, though—I tend to rage more in those darker times.
What’s strange is that my frustration isn’t directed at God Himself; it’s with the brokenness of the world caused by sin. I get angry about how much this brokenness hurts me and the people I love, including Jess, my kids, and others in my life. It’s hard to sit with that reality, but even in those moments, I know God is present.
Dave Quak
And sometimes, I just want to scream at the world. I don’t even know what I’m screaming at—just the atmosphere, I guess. Wishing that this side of eternity was better.
Amelia Rees
Yeah, 100%. I don’t think that’s unique to you or your bipolar disorder. I feel like there’s a general consensus, especially this year. More and more people are looking at the state of the world and asking, “How are we going to deal with this? What’s going on?” It’s hard to wrestle with those kinds of questions, and there’s no way to control it.
Amelia Rees
There’s just so much hurt, sin, and pain in the world. The daily grind of all that...
Dave Quak
It really hurts people. Whether it’s mental illness, physical illness, intellectual disabilities—whatever it is, it all sucks.
Amelia Rees
Yeah.
I’m fatter than i’ve ever been before!
So, that’s been part of the brokenness. On top of that, there have been physical challenges too. I keep getting fatter, man. I’m not even exaggerating. Today at church, this lady came up and poked my tummy at church and said, “Look at your tummy!”
Could you imagine if I did that to her? How wrong would that be? But apparently, it’s okay for her to do it to me. So yeah, physically I’m struggling. One of the medications I’m on, Seroquel, gives you the munchies so badly.
Dave Quak
Everyone on it will say the same thing—you’ve got to get to sleep within an hour, or you’ll get up and eat everything in sight. So, I’ve been trying to pay more attention to my diet. I also need to cut back on caffeine. Jess and I stumbled across a really good book about managing mania and severe depression. It talks about reducing stimulants like caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, sugar—anything that revs you up.
Dave Quak
Ideally, in a perfect world, I wouldn’t consume any stimulants. So, I’ve been cutting back on caffeine, which is a big step for me. I think getting off it entirely would be beneficial because it makes my thoughts race and jacks me up.
Amelia Rees
You should try green tea.
Dave Quak
I just wish there was something as intense as coffee. Coffee’s not just about the flavor—it’s the whole experience. I drink straight black coffee. It’s bitter, it’s intense, it’s an event. Drinking water doesn’t give you that.
Amelia Rees
Water doesn’t have that vibe at all.
Dave Quak
Exactly. Coffee has this whole sensory thing—its crema, its richness. I’m missing that.
Amelia Rees
But if giving it up helps, it’s worth a try. When was the last time you went without coffee? When you were 12?
Dave Quak
Probably! A couple of weeks ago, I tried switching to instant coffee as a way to wean off espressos. I accidentally drank decaf instant without realizing it, and by 11 a.m., I felt awful. I didn’t know what was wrong.
Amelia Rees
Oh no!
Dave Quak
So I made another instant coffee, thinking it would help. Turns out, it was decaf too. I was wrecked and didn’t realize it was the lack of caffeine.
Amelia Rees
The headaches and all that?
Dave Quak
Yeah, it was brutal. It’s been a strange journey.
Amelia Rees
How’s the family dealing with all these changes? Has this new project impacted them much?
Dave Quak
It’s been a big change. Having this project has been good for me—it gives me purpose and a sense of direction. I think a lot of people in their 40s feel this yearning for something new, and if it’s not healthy, it can turn into a midlife crisis. For me, this project satisfies that desire in a healthy way.
Dave Quak
That said, I have to be careful. It’s all volunteer work, so I might spend too much time on it and neglect rest or Sabbath. Balancing this with church responsibilities has been tricky, but overall, the family seems to like it. They’re also gaining a better understanding of what it’s like to live with bipolar.
Amelia Rees
Yeah, I was going to ask if you’ve had more of those conversations with them. With new medications and everything, do you sit down with the kids and explain, “Hey, I might be a bit off for the next few days”?
Dave Quak
Sometimes, yeah. I bring it up, but they’re also at a point where they can say, “Dad, you’re a little heightened right now.”
Amelia Rees
That’s awesome that they can notice and talk about it.
Dave Quak
Yeah, they can see it. In the past, they were probably scared to address it because they didn’t understand. Now they’re comfortable, and they actually do it quite well—especially my son, Josiah. He’s 16, boisterous, and full of energy, but he’s also a sensitive guy.
He communicates in a way that’s not personal or hurtful. He’s very empathetic and insightful. For instance, he’ll say, “Dad, when you did this and that, it might indicate you’re manic.” It’s quite a thoughtful way to express himself for a 16-year-old.
Our family has gotten better at communicating about my mental health. I remember during our first conversation a year ago, I mentioned how I thought they liked me more when I was manic. But a few months later, they admitted the opposite—they actually prefer me when I’m depressed because I leave them alone.
Amelia Rees
Yeah.
Dave Quak
When I’m manic, I tend to recruit everyone in the house into my projects or ideas, which can overwhelm them. I’ve been trying to keep that in mind, giving them space instead of drawing them into my heightened energy.
Amelia Rees
How do you manage that internally? When you feel the urge to start a project or act on a big idea—like buying a sheep or a bike—how do you handle it now that you’re more aware of those manic tendencies?
Crazy manic things still happen
I’ve learned to take a step back and think things through. For example, with the house or the sheep, those are big, outlandish decisions that cost money. Recently, I’ve been focusing on curbing smaller, unnecessary expenses. Instead of spending $50,000 on something, I catch myself before spending hundreds on random things.
For instance, I’ve been really into boating lately because we caught a marlin and a Spanish mackerel recently. I wanted to buy some new fishing rods. Normally, I would’ve just bought them without hesitation, but this time, I didn’t. That’s a big deal for me.
Here’s the funny part—what happens when the decision isn’t yours? Like if someone gives you a yacht?
Amelia Rees
Who’s going to give you a yacht?
Dave Quak
Well, this guy Chris did!
Amelia Rees
What?
Dave Quak
Yeah, long story short, a man offered me a yacht that was on a hardstand at the marina. All we had to do was fix it up and move it. I thought, “Free yacht? Who wouldn’t say yes?” And honestly, it was hard not to think, “This is from the Lord!” But it turned out to be more trouble than it was worth, and we had to back out of the deal.
Your question is a good one—it’s something I have to keep in mind constantly. Positive experiences, like the time you and I spoke at a homeless shelter, can fuel action. If someone had suggested starting a homeless shelter right after that, I would’ve jumped at the idea, even if it wasn’t feasible.
Amelia Rees
Exactly. I think that’s true for everyone, regardless of their mental health journey. It’s about staying aware, adjusting, and maintaining open communication with your family.
Dave Quak
Yeah, absolutely. It’s not perfect, but we’re managing. Oh, and Jess just celebrated her 40th birthday two nights ago!
Amelia Rees
That’s great!
Dave Quak:
And that was such a cool milestone for our family. You know, I had this strange experience. When Jess and I first got married, someone—this false prophet—told her she wouldn’t make it to her 40th birthday. Now, in ministry, weird stuff like that happens all the time. A normal brain could just dismiss it, right? Like, “False prophet, rebuke that in Jesus' name,” and move on.
But for me, it lingered in the back of my mind over the years—not in an obsessive way, but it would resurface occasionally. I’d pray about it, and then let it go again. So, for Jess to celebrate her 40th birthday was just incredible. Instead of letting those horrible words define the moment, we had people who love her gather around, declaring biblical truths over her life.
At the end of it, one of her friends, Andy, read the blessing: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.” It was such a powerful moment. We broke off the past and chose to step boldly into the future.
And honestly, I feel like I’m trying to do the same thing with this mental illness phase of my life. It’s been a journey of discovery—trying to understand it, figure it out, and see what God is doing through it all. But now, I feel it’s time to move forward. It’s time to learn how to manage this as a man of God, to take the next steps. Jess’s 40th was a milestone that announced a new season for her, and I feel the same way about my mental health journey. The focus now is on finding victory, showing others how to find victory, and stepping into that hope for this year.
Amelia Rees:
We’ll definitely be praying for you guys as you move into that new season.
Dave Quak:
Thanks, Amelia.
Sunburnt Souls on the radio
We’ve hit 50 episodes now, which is amazing. The cool thing is, even though we’re releasing new episodes, the older ones are still being listened to. It seems like people find the podcast, get on board, and then work their way through the episodes.
That said, it’s not the kind of podcast you can binge every week without a break. It’s heavier—there’s soul processing involved. It’s not like listening to Hamish and Andy, where it’s light and funny. But people really appreciate it for what it is.
A lot of radio stations have picked it up, especially here on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane. They’re hosting the podcast and directing listeners to it from their websites, which is awesome. We’ve also started doing these one-minute soundbites called “Sunburnt Souls in 60.” They’re just quick, 60-second reflections, and radio stations love them! They’re getting played on about ten stations now—probably more. I even had a friend call me from Canberra to say they heard me on the radio while grabbing coffee. It’s surreal but so encouraging.
Amelia Rees:
That’s incredible!
Dave Quak:
Yeah, it’s really exciting. The website’s looking great, too. I feel like we’re poised for growth—both the podcast and the ministry as a whole.
Amelia Rees:
Absolutely. There’s such a need for this, Dave.
Dave Quak:
Thanks, Amelia. You’ve listened to more Sunburnt Souls episodes than anyone since you edit them. What do you think?
Amelia Rees:
I think it’s going great. What stands out to me is the common thread in every episode: God shows up, even in the darkest times. It’s such a simple yet profound reminder that all we need to do is turn to Him.
No matter what someone’s mental health journey or life experience has been, that message remains consistent. It’s a reminder of God’s heart for us—to be in relationship with Him. Yes, life is messy and hard because we live in a broken world, but God’s design and His desire for us are so much better.
And you’ve done an incredible job bringing out those deeper stories from people. I know you send guests questions, but the way you go off-topic and dive into what really matters—that’s where the magic happens.
Dave Quak:
Thanks, Amelia. And you’re right—there are so many topics we still need to cover. The more we do this, the more I realize how many episodes are waiting to happen.
This might sound weird, but I’m genuinely excited about an upcoming episode on menopause.
Amelia Rees:
I love it! I can’t wait.
Dave Quak:
It’s fascinating! It’s one of those topics that’s often misunderstood or dismissed. People joke about hot flashes, but it’s a challenging season for women, their families, and even the men walking alongside them.
I’m also excited about exploring practical mental health topics—like how friendships impact mental well-being. We recently asked listeners for ideas for next year, and the response has been fantastic. There’s so much to talk about, and I can’t wait to see where it all goes.
Dave Quak:
And last week, I did a random episode on psilocybin and magic mushrooms. It’s cool because, even though I don’t agree with everything the guest said, it was interesting to hear a different perspective on such an important topic.
Amelia Rees:
Yes, definitely. Have you had any favourite episodes or conversations that really surprised you?
Dave Quak:
Interestingly, people really like the chats with Jess. Those episodes seem to get a lot of hits and feedback. I think people appreciate seeing what living it out day by day looks like.
Dave Quak:
One funny thing I’ve noticed is that people don’t seem to care about celebrity status. For example, I had Mayor Tom Tate on, which was an awesome chat because he’s such a cool guy. But that episode didn’t get significantly more hits than others. Honestly, it’s freeing. It’s taught me that I don’t need to chase big names. People just want relatable stories from mostly normal people because, let’s face it, most of us are normal people.
Our niche seems to be those regular folks who are just having a crack at living for Jesus every day in the midst of all the mess.
Amelia Rees:
That’s such a beautiful way to put it.
Dave Quak:
Amelia, I wish we could release the outtakes from before and after the actual podcast recordings. That’s when you really get the raw, unfiltered stuff. It’s a reminder that no one’s got it all together—whether pastors, psychologists, or doctors. Turn off the mic, and everyone’s like, “Man, this is hard,” or, “My life’s a mess.”
But at the end of the day, Jesus is good. That’s the only thing that truly matters—He cares for us and walks with us through it all.
Amelia Rees:
And that’s what makes Sunburnt Souls so impactful. Over the past decade, there have been lots of conversations around mental health—like through Beyond Blue and other resources—but there aren’t many from a Christian perspective.
Hearing people say, “This is what it’s like to live as a Christian with these struggles,” helps others realize, “Oh, I feel that way too. And that’s okay.” It normalizes the experience, and it’s only when we accept our struggles that we can start to deal with them.
Dave Quak:
Exactly. Oh, and here’s some cool news—Carinity, an arm of the Baptist organisation, is giving $5,000 next year to help us out. How good is that?
Amelia Rees:
That’s amazing!
Dave Quak:
Yeah, it’ll help with costs and stuff. It’s epic.
Amelia Rees:
Another idea could be creating resources for churches. Imagine having plug-and-play episodes, like “What Sucks About Being Mentally Ill in Church.” Those could be valuable tools.
Dave Quak:
That’s actually one of the episodes that does really well. The church can be horrible for the mentally ill. We’ll link it in the show notes.
Oh, and here’s a spoiler—Amelia, we’re planning to create a course on faith and mental wellbeing. It’ll be like a discipleship course mixed with a mental wellbeing course, but not from a clinical psychology perspective.
There are already fantastic courses written by clinical psychiatrists for people with bipolar disorder and tons of discipleship courses. But there’s nothing that blends the two for everyday people.
My vision is this: a weekly 15-minute teaching to start, followed by one-minute daily reminders, and then another session the next week. The first session could explore the theology of faith and mental wellbeing, answering questions like, “If God is loving, why does mental illness exist?”
It’s such a valid question, but the Bible unpacks it well. Mental illness is part of humanity’s brokenness. When you realize it’s linked to the brokenness of the world, it becomes less personal—it’s not your fault. It’s a humanity-wide issue.
Amelia Rees:
That’s such a powerful perspective.
Dave Quak:
Right? Then the next session could be on identity—understanding that you are made in God’s image and are His child. Anxiety or depression doesn’t define you. Instead, your proximity to God does.
So instead of saying, “I’m depressed,” you’d say, “I’m a child of God who struggles with depression.” It’s a subtle but profound difference.
Amelia Rees:
Yeah.
Dave Quak:
I don’t know if I’ve shared this with you, but there was this Instagram clip where a girl was recording herself getting a diagnosis. They told her she had generalized anxiety disorder, and she broke down, recording the moment like it was a gender reveal. It was a diagnosis reveal.
I get the need to be open about mental health, but it turns it into a fad. Mental illness isn’t about being trendy. We want to be transparent and open, but we should never glamorise or trivialise it.
Is my mental illness my new identity?
If we recognise that mental illness isn’t our identity, we can still flourish. It’s just part of our brokenness, like anything else. I often use the example of a homeless guy—but maybe I shouldn’t keep using him as an example. You bring him to church, and no one looks at him thinking he’s less of a person or less made in God’s image because he’s missing an arm or has a physical affliction.
Yet sometimes, we treat people with mental illness as though they’re spiritually lacking or broken in ways that make them less worthy. It’s not true.
Anyway, would you sign up for that kind of course? That’s just off the top of my head.
Amelia Rees:
100%. I think it’s a great idea! Especially for people with short attention spans, something like a 15-minute session with one-minute reminders would be perfect.
Dave Quak:
Yeah, I think that should be one of the next steps.
Amelia Rees:
Is that one of your dreams for this year?
Dave Quak:
Absolutely. I want to see that happen. It would be such a helpful resource.
Something else I’ve been thinking about is mental health first aid. It’s gaining traction in Australia, like physical first aid. Teachers have to do physical first aid training annually, and now they’re rolling out mental health first aid too.
The idea isn’t to turn people into practitioners but to equip them to recognize the problem, do the basics, and call for help—just like physical first aid until the ambulance arrives.
But there’s a gap when it comes to Christian mental health first aid. While many principles are transferable, if we added a Christian perspective—supported by professional insights and solid research—it could be transformative. Churches could use training like this to handle situations better.
Amelia Rees:
Yeah.
Dave Quak:
For example, a schizophrenic man came to church recently during a psychotic episode. It freaked out a few people who weren’t familiar with that. I pulled him aside, disarmed the situation, and had a calm conversation with him.
The people who were scared didn’t do the wrong thing—they came to me, someone who knew what to do. Not everyone in the church needs to be an expert, but someone has to know how to handle situations like that.
Amelia Rees:
Exactly.
Dave Quak:
I’d love to see this kind of training offered to churches. Imagine if every church had at least five trained people on their team. It would raise awareness and equip the body of Christ to respond better.
Amelia Rees:
Absolutely. It’s so needed. It helps us connect and break down barriers. Sometimes people feel like they need to act a certain way at church—stand taller, look perfect. But we need to break that down and say, “Come as you are. We’re all broken. We all need Jesus.”
Dave Quak:
Exactly.
Amelia Rees
Yeah.
Dave Quak
I'll tell you one other thing that I loved, Amelia. I’m not saying this was a direct result of Sunburnt Souls, but it was happening parallel to it. My friend goes to a church, and they just implemented a sensory room for people with sensory issues. I was so pumped to hear that! They’ve got the cry room and everything else, but now they have a sensory room. The person couldn’t wait to tell me because they knew I’d be excited.
And so, more of that sort of stuff—more and more of that—would be awesome.
Amelia Rees
Yeah, 100%. It’s that recognition, isn’t it? Making people feel safe and loved.
So, we’re coming towards the end of the episode. Let’s talk about all the people who have helped along the way.
Dave Quak
Oh man, there’s a lot. I mean, you are obviously up there, Amelia. No, no, no—that wasn’t a fish for a compliment! But it’s true. You’ve been amazing—not just your editing skills, but your camaraderie, prayer, and support. Being together, having a laugh, and helping me when I’m feeling a little bit insane has been incredible.
Your husband too! I’ve also been really blessed by a lot of the guests—busy people who take time out of their week. We don’t have resources to pay anyone, so a big thanks to all the guests and the people helping behind the scenes. Even the people who text us after episodes—that’s amazing.
The podcast studio, for example—it was built on the back of generosity. We did a $5,000 GoFundMe, and it was filled within hours! We took it down after that—it was amazing. Right now, you can’t see this, but I’m in a lovely studio where I can work in silence. There’s a storm happening right now, and you can’t even hear it. It’s got air conditioning and everything. It’s a great workspace, which is really cool.
There are also all the little blessings. There’s a team of ladies at my church who pray for Sunburnt Souls. I never even asked them to! I’ve been intentional about keeping Sunburnt Souls and the church separate because I don’t want to fish from the same pond, you know? But they’ve been praying anyway, which is amazing.
Someone even put money into the account through the giving tab on the website. Ultimately, it’s been an encouraging year. There have been ups and downs, obviously, but this is the best. I feel so blessed, humbled, and thankful to be part of this.
To anyone I’ve forgotten, please forgive me. To my family—thank you for being quiet during recording times, even though the studio is soundproof. I just want to make sure. Thank you to Milani, my daughter, for staying in her room and Watson, the dog, for not barking too much.
It’s been good. Really good, Amelia.
Amelia Rees
Yeah, and it’s given you a fresh, peppy new step, I think.
Dave Quak
Yes, that’s what I needed. It’s been good. And I pray it’ll keep going well. I think this is going to be a great building year.
Amelia Rees
Yeah, it’s very exciting. God is doing good things.
Dave Quak
He’s good.
Amelia Rees
Should we pray to wrap it up?
Dave Quak
Sounds good. That’s my job today since I’m the guest!
Amelia Rees
Yes!
Dave Quak
Let’s pray.
Oh Lord, thank you for another year. Thank you for your goodness and kindness to us. You are always amazing. We pray, Lord God, that you bless all the people who have sown into Sunburnt Souls this year. Let your hand rest upon them, and bless all the people who will receive from Sunburnt Souls this year.
Help us stay on track, Lord God. Help us to speak truth, bring life, and show that you are good, kind, and the best. We praise you in Jesus' name. Amen.
Can you be a Christian and struggle with mental illness?
Yes, being a Christian does not make you immune to mental illness. The Bible is full of people who battled deep emotional struggles—Elijah, David, and even Paul faced despair. Mental illness is not a sign of weak faith; rather, it’s part of the brokenness of this world. Jesus meets us in our struggles, offering hope, healing, and the promise of His presence (Psalm 34:18, Matthew 11:28-30). Seeking professional help, medication, and therapy can be part of God’s provision for healing, alongside prayer and biblical wisdom.
How can I tell if my mental illness is spiritual or medical?
Mental illness is complex, often involving both physical (chemical imbalances, trauma) and spiritual (faith, identity, purpose) aspects. The key is discernment. If symptoms persist regardless of prayer, fasting, or deliverance, medical help is essential. Proverbs 11:14 reminds us that wise counsel is vital. It’s okay to see a doctor, just as you would for a physical illness, while also seeking spiritual guidance and support from your faith community.
What does the Bible say about anxiety and depression?
The Bible acknowledges anxiety and depression and provides encouragement for those who struggle. Philippians 4:6-7 teaches us to bring our worries to God in prayer. Psalm 42:11 shows that even strong believers wrestle with deep sorrow. Jesus Himself experienced distress in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:44). The Bible does not shame mental struggles but instead calls us to trust in God’s presence, seek help, and find hope in His promises.
Is it okay for Christians to take medication for mental illness?
Yes. Just as insulin is necessary for diabetes or a cast for a broken leg, mental health medication can be a tool for stability and healing. Nowhere in Scripture does it forbid medical treatment—Luke, one of Jesus’ disciples, was a physician. God uses both supernatural healing and medical interventions to bring wholeness. Prayer, community, and wise medical care can work together for a Christ-centred approach to mental health.
How can I support a loved one struggling with mental illness as a Christian?
The best support is a mix of presence, prayer, and practical help. Be a safe space for them to share without judgment (James 1:19). Encourage professional and spiritual guidance but don’t push quick-fix solutions. Offer practical support—meals, childcare, or simply sitting with them. Pray for them regularly and remind them that their identity is in Christ, not their condition. Love them as Jesus loves—patiently, compassionately, and with hope.
How to get help with faith and mental health
If you’ve been wrestling with mental health struggles or navigating the balance between faith and medication, Sunburnt Souls is here to remind you that you’re not alone. Through open conversations and shared stories, we explore hope and healing in the messiness of life. Visit sunburntsouls.com to connect with resources and listen to more episode. Subscribe here to continue receiving updates.
