If you were trying to create the perfect environment to trigger depression, you’d be hard-pressed to do better than the situation we have right now. Think about it. We have a world-wide pandemic that has created fear, grief, uncertainty, and isolation. Throw in social and political unrest and you have a pressure cooker that leaves even the healthiest-minded people feeling down. It’s no wonder prescriptions for antidepressants spiked 36% in 2020.

For church leaders, it’s not just your own mental health you have to think about. People in your church are hurting too. Ministry for Depression is a wide-ranging resource designed to help you meet these great needs. It will teach you what warning signs to look for, dispel common myths, and equip you with techniques for helping people cope. Of course, it’s not just depression that’s increased during this tumultuous time; mental illnesses of all kinds have been exacerbated. Check out our Mental Illness download to get tips for ministering to the mentally ill.