Amber is immediately available in person in White Plains and virtually across New York State. 
If you or someone you know is in distress, immediate help is available:
24/7 Emergency Crisis Support: Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, text HOME to 741741 for the Crisis Text Line, or visit 988lifeline.org.
Faith-Based Clinical Consultation: Call 1-855-771-HELP (4357) to speak with a licensed mental health professional or pastoral counselor through Focus on the Family (Mon–Fri, 6 AM – 8 PM MT).
24/7 Pastoral Care & Prayer: Call 1-800-525-5683 to connect directly with the K-LOVE Pastor Line for spiritual support.
Can a Christian Have Suicidal Thoughts?
Yes, a Christian can have suicidal thoughts. When Christians with suicidal thoughts suffer in silence, shame often prevents them from seeking life-saving care. Devout, praying believers experience severe depression and suicidal ideation almost as much as the general population. And mental health crises can happen to people of deep faith in every season of life.
Those same believers sit in church every Sunday feeling completely empty. They smile, listen to the sermon, and battle the desire to end their own lives. This reality spans from congregation members in the pews to pastors in the pulpit.
Church culture frequently emphasizes joy, peace, and spiritual victory. When your daily reality is heavy and dark, finding joy feels impossible. This weight often gets mistaken for a moral failing, leading to doubt, confusion, and hopelessness, which are the primary drivers of suicidal thoughts. As hopelessness grows, pressure builds to hide the pain out of fear of judgment or being labeled as having weak faith.
Christians With Suicidal Thoughts: Faith and Mental Health
In the church, people with strong faith are expected to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit, including joy and peace in all circumstances. However, this desire to produce fruit can leave Christians with suicidal thoughts unseen, creating an environment where hurting believers feel pressured to hide their pain out of fear of judgment. The Lord knit us together in our mother’s womb, so He understands how He designed us. Depression is a medical and psychological condition that exists in a fallen world. Your hopelessness and pain do not surprise God. Stress, trauma, and grief alter brain function, causing deep depression. Scripture also models emotional vulnerability. Jesus demonstrated lament, expressing pain and despair as He journeyed to His death on the cross. Therapy, psychiatric care, and medication serve as practical tools for recovery. Combining clinical support with faith provides a comprehensive approach to managing depression, grief, and suicidal ideation.
Biblical Examples of Deep Despair
Scripture documents the mental anguish of faithful individuals. The Bible reflects real human suffering, showing believers in extreme pain:
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Elijah: After a major spiritual victory, he fled into the wilderness, sat under a tree, and asked God to take his life out of sheer exhaustion and despair (1 Kings 19).
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Job: He cursed the day he was born and longed for death amid intense trauma and loss (Job 3).
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David: The Psalms record his experience of drowning, darkness, and feeling abandoned by God (Psalm 88).
God did not condemn these men. When Elijah wanted to die, God provided food, rest, and His presence. God did not demand immediate joy from an exhausted servant; He provided for Elijah’s physical and emotional needs first. David expressed raw grief, and his trust in God’s character sustained him through seasons of despair. God cares about human suffering and hears the cries of His children.
How to Release the Shame of Depression Through Lament
Shame requires secrecy. Secrecy prevents fellowship, clinical treatment, and help-seeking behaviors. Sharing your pain with others is the first step toward relief. Healing requires a safe environment where you can express struggle without facing spiritual bypassing or being told to “just pray harder.” Bringing dark thoughts into the light can feel scary, but being honest with yourself and others helps you get support. Expressing grief and pain is biblical, healthy, and demonstrates genuine trust in God.
Steps to Take Right Now
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Tell a safe person: Reach out to a trusted friend, family member, church leader, or mental health professional. Choose someone who listens without judgment. Tell them the depth of your pain and ask for help, even when your instincts are telling you to stay silent.
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Lament and pray: If speaking to another person feels overwhelming, bring your raw feelings directly to God. Praying can bring peace, prompt a loved one to reach out, or bring comforting Scripture to mind. Prayer changes things. You can read more about lament in our comprehensive blog post.
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Seek professional mental health care: Work with a counselor who respects your faith and understands clinical psychology. Licensed Christian counselors specialize in treating depression, suicidal thoughts, and grief. Read more about Christian Counseling vs. Pastoral Counseling here and about Christian Counseling here.
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Engage in small sources of relief: Hopelessness makes joy feel distant, but intentional positive actions help regulate emotional health over time.
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Serve others when appropriate: Serving can rebuild purpose and connection. However, if you are experiencing burnout or caretaker fatigue, take a complete break from serving others to receive care yourself. This is especially true if you serve in ministry as a leader or pastor.
Why Are So Many Pastors Dying by Suicide?
Pastors carry heavy, invisible emotional burdens. Research shows that nearly one in five Protestant pastors has contemplated self-harm or suicide. Constant availability, congregational demands, and the expectation to remain spiritually invincible create extreme isolation. Pastors regularly absorb the trauma, loss, and grief of their entire community with very few safe spaces to process their own pain. To any ministry leader battling burnout or thoughts of giving up: your humanity is not a failure of faith. You deserve the same care, grace, and support you offer to others daily.
Statistics on Pastors, Christians, and Suicidal Thoughts in Ministry
These numbers reflect what many church leaders experience in private. Recent research highlights the scope of mental health struggles, isolation, and suicidal thoughts among pastors:
Suicidal Ideation and Self-Harm
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18% of U.S. Protestant Pastors: Nearly 1 in 5 senior pastors report contemplating self-harm or suicide within the past year.
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The Isolation Impact: 26% of pastors who experience severe loneliness or isolation report having suicidal thoughts, compared to just 5% of pastors who feel well-supported.
Depression and Burnout
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59% Lifetime Rate of Depression: Over half of Protestant pastors experience clinical depression during their ministry.
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47% Experience Chronic Isolation: Nearly half of active pastors report feeling consistently lonely or emotionally detached from their congregations.
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38% Consider Quitting Ministry: Over one-third of pastors actively consider leaving full-time ministry due to stress, burnout, and mental health strain.
The Church Silence Gap
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49% Rare or No Discussion: Nearly half of pastors say they rarely or never speak to their congregation about mental health or suicide prevention.
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4% Awareness Before Loss: Only 4% of churchgoers who lost a loved one to suicide felt that church leadership was aware of their loved one’s mental health struggle prior to their death.
Upcoming Talk: Navigating Grief and Burnout in Ministry
If you’re a pastor reading this and feel disheartened but seen as you read about pastors and suicide, Shakira wants to invite you to rest. This October, she will present on pastoral grief at The S.W.I.M. Clergy Care Retreat: Renewal for the Mind, Spirit & Mission. This presentation addresses the specific emotional toll of ministry work and offers practical strategies to process pain, protect your mental health, and find confidential support. Register for The S.W.I.M. Clergy Care Retreat here.
How Do We Prevent Suicide in the Black Church?
Faith communities need practical, evidence-based tools to address mental health crises directly. Soul Shop™ provides specialized suicide prevention training designed specifically for faith leaders, ministry teams, and congregations. The training equips churches to recognize warning signs, engage in life-saving conversations, and eliminate stigma surrounding mental health. The program is inclusive, and there are curricula for Hispanic churches, mixed churches, and more.
We will host Soul Shop™ training next year to equip our local church communities to be safe spaces for those struggling in silence.
Join our newsletter to receive updates when training dates open, and explore local resources today on the Soul Shop™ Movement website.
Get Professional Support Today
You need care from professionals who understand suicidal ideation and will respect your faith. We offer therapy that combines evidence-based treatment with Christian values. Book a session with our counseling team today.
Join Our Community for Ongoing Encouragement
Healing requires consistent support and practical tools. Join our email community to receive our free guide, You Can Set It Down, along with regular mental health resources and encouragement delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up for our newsletter and download your free guide. Already on the list? You can download the workbook directly here.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Christians with Suicidal Thoughts
Is it a sin for a Christian or pastor to struggle with suicidal thoughts?
No. Suicidal thoughts are a symptom of severe emotional, physical, or psychological distress, not a moral failure or a lack of faith. Biblical leaders like Elijah, Job, and David experienced intense despair and wished for their lives to end. Experiencing a mental health crisis does not separate you from God or diminish your salvation.
Why is suicide prevention particularly critical in the Black Church?
The Black Church has historically served as a foundational pillar for community, resilience, and spiritual safety. However, mental health struggles in Black communities have often been met with silence or simplified to “just praying it away.” Addressing suicide directly in the Black Church dismantles generational stigma, validates psychological pain alongside faith, and connects believers to life-saving clinical resources.
Why do pastors experience high rates of depression and suicidal ideation?
Pastors operate under continuous stress, public scrutiny, and high emotional output without adequate personal support. They routinely carry the trauma, grief, and crisis of an entire congregation while lacking safe, confidential spaces to express their own vulnerabilities. This dynamic creates deep isolation, burnout, and untreated depression.
What is Soul Shop™ training, and how does it help faith communities?
Soul Shop™ is a specialized suicide prevention curriculum designed specifically for church leaders and faith communities. It equips pastors, staff, and congregants to spot the warning signs of despair, facilitate safe interventions, and foster a culture where mental health struggles can be shared without shame.
What will be covered at The S.W.I.M. Clergy Care Retreat in October?
The S.W.I.M. Clergy Care Retreat focuses on holistic restoration for ministry leaders. Shakira’s session will address the hidden weight of pastoral grief, burnout, and mental exhaustion. Attendees will learn actionable methods to process unaddressed grief, establish healthy ministry boundaries, and access confidential care.
How do I join the newsletter to get the free guide, You Can Set It Down?
You can subscribe using the newsletter sign-up link below where it says, “Let’s stay connected.” Once registered, you will receive an immediate download link for the free guide, You Can Set It Down, as well as ongoing mental health insights, event updates, and notifications for our upcoming Soul Shop™ training sessions.
Do Christians with suicidal thoughts lack faith?
No. The belief that Christians and suicidal thoughts cannot coexist is a misconception. Scripture tells us that “many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all” (Psalm 34:19). This life is filled with hardship and disappointment, and experiencing severe distress or suicidal ideation does not mean you lack faith in God. It does mean you are hurting and can’t see your way out of your pain.
Where can I find video resources on suicide in the church?
Life.Church offers a dedicated, faith-centered sermon series addressing mental health, depression, and suicide in the church. The video breaks down how Christians with suicidal thoughts can overcome isolation, dismantle spiritual shame, and reach out for clinical and pastoral help. Watch the message here. Visit Life.Church to watch their mental health sermon series. Redefined TV has Therapy Thursdays where they discuss mental health topics. You can browse their library of powerful sermons here.
References
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Barna Group. (2024). The State of Pastors, Vol. 2: Pastors, Too, Grapple with Thoughts of Suicide, Self-Harm. Barna Research Center.
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Barna Group. (2021). 38% of U.S. Pastors Have Thought About Quitting Full-Time Ministry in the Past Year. Barna Research Center.
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Lifeway Research. (2017). Mental Health and the Church Study. Lifeway Christian Resources.
Shakira K. O’Garro, LMHC-D, LPC, LPCC, NCC, is a Black Christian therapist specializing in medical trauma, chronic illness, and supporting Christians through a crisis of faith. Living with severe stage 4 endometriosis and adenomyosis taught her how deeply physical pain, medical dismissal, and suffering can impact your mental health and relationship with God. Her work centers Black Christian women who are exhausted from being gaslit by healthcare systems and told to just “pray harder” when their bodies are breaking down. Shakira (and her clinicians) offer therapy that honors your pain, validates your experience, and integrates your faith without spiritual bypassing.