The Healthy Spiritual Journey • May 2026: Faith and Mental Health

“And there will finally be a space where, when you reach out for help, someone will reach back and grab your hand.” – Hailey Muro, young poet (2002-2019, died by suicide)

Faith is not a cure for mental health problems, but it can be a trusted companion. That distinction matters! Too often, people of faith feel pressure to “pray their way” out of anxiety, depression, or grief, as if struggling were a sign of spiritual failure. Mental health challenges are not moral shortcomings! They are human experiences in which faith – sincerely and deeply practiced – can be a source of grounding, courage, and connection rather than an expectation of instant relief or cure.

Our society has begun to understand mental health with greater clarity. A 2026 article in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported that the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has been associated with roughly 4,400 fewer suicide deaths among teens and young adults (age 15-34) between its launch in July 2022 and December 2024. The study found an approximately 11% lower suicide rate in this age group than projected, suggesting that federal investment in a simple, accessible three-digit hotline has made a measurable difference. This is not just a statistic – it is a reminder that lives can be saved when we choose to act, to invest, and to care.

These truths resonate deeply with me. My faith was severely shaken in 1994 when my daughter, Lauren, was killed at a railroad crossing. All of the prayers that I could muster did not prevent her from dying as I drove to the hospital. Even though I could not prevent her death, the organization that I helped to found (in her honor), the DuPage Railroad Safety Council, has worked to greatly reduce deaths on railroad property. When Lauren died, the major cause of railroad-related deaths was (like hers) accidental deaths at crossings. Over the years, however, one of the leading causes of railroad-related deaths has become suicide. When we began our work, we were discouraged from focusing on suicides because many believed that they were not preventable. But the JAMA findings challenge that assumption. They suggest that something can be done. They affirm what many families, advocates, and survivors have long hoped: that prevention is possible, that compassion matters, and that reaching out can save lives. Inspired by this, we continue to seek new preventive opportunities, such as better data, stronger partnerships, and engineering different behavior through the use of technology.

Where does faith fit into all of this? Not as a quick fix or a spiritual shortcut, but as a companion for those who are struggling. Faith does not erase the need for therapy, medication, crisis lines, or community support; but it can give us the courage to reach for those resources. It can remind us that asking for help is not weakness – it is a sign of strength and wisdom. Healing is rarely a single moment. It is a series of small, brave steps. It begins by reaching out with hope and it continues by discovering the grace of experiencing that someone is there to reach back with love. The faithful among us know that God accompanies us on every step of our spiritual journey, both in sickness and in health.

In God’s love,

Lanny F. Wilson, MD

“Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28