Having treated hundreds of individuals stuggling with depression at Full Circle Health, I have come to the realization that there is no such thing as Prozac versus prayer when one is on the verge of a nervous breakdown or suicide. Just as there is no such thing as sublingual nitroglycerin tablets versus prayer when faced with an impending cardiac arrest—heart attack. The real question is do you want to live or die. . Most of us choose to live and do what we can to live. For Christians and many non Christians facing the frightening chest pain of cardiac arrest, prayer medication and in some instances electro-shock therapy are considered acceptable treatments. But for those facing the pain of clinical depression, prayer alone must suffice. The thought of medication or shock therapy that were God-given life savers in the treatment of heart disease suddenly become demonic in the treatment of depression. In my practice, more time is spent on mental health education than actual treatment, especially with Christians who seem to know so little about mental illness and feel such shame in seeking help. Much of the success Full Circle health has enjoyed has come about as a result of the liberation Christians feel once they deepen their understanding and see the value of wholistic treatment of medical conditions like depression.

What most people do not immediately realize is just how powerful and deadly clinical depression can be. As silent as hypertension and diabetes and as devastating as cancer and AIDS, clinical depression is a bona fide killer. A killer that is able to devastate lives and destroy families at will because it usually goes unrecognized or ignored. A recent study showed that 54 per cent of people polled perceive depression as a personal weakness and not as a medical condition.

This perception is unfortunate because it stops people from seeking help especially in the Christian community where depression moves beyond boundaries of personal weakness into the realm of sin. In addition to carrying the biological, psychological and spiritual burden of this condition depressed Christians carry the additional stigma, guilt and shame associated with the perception that they are either not “strong enough” or “blessed enough” to be delivered. As a result, many Christians have tremendous anxiety and internal conflict around seeking and receiving professional help. In some instances, it might be worse for them to let anyone in their church know they are receiving mental health treatment, even if it’s Christ-centered. Rather than risk being shamed or stigmatized, many stay quiet about their depression choosing to suffer silently instead.

Too bad—they don’t know that they may just end up with heart disease in addition to the depression according to basic Systems Theory. Like a car, the body is a system. The fact is that anything left unattended in one part of a system will ultimately affect another pat of the system. Our minds, bodies, and spirits make up a system. Illness, trials, tribulations, Satan can attack any part of the system. Once one part of a system is attacked, or compromised, every other part of the system is affected in some way. Personal or work related stress that is not addressed over time, for example, can lead to high blood pressure, or hypertension. Hypertension targets the heart and the brain and can result in stroke or death. The difficulty is that treatment and intervention tend to start when we get to the doctor with a “visible” systems problem and not when the non-visible systems problem or stress arises.

Invisibly acting depression is a major systems problem affecting the medical and psychological in addition to the social and spiritual aspects of the self. Untreated depression has been shown to be linked to the development of well known conditions including heart disease, infectious diseases, and substance abuse. Anyone who has to stay in the hospital system for extended time is also at risk for developing depression. Why do we give flowers, gifts, and cards to someone who is in for the treatment of a biological condition? Why do we have ministries to visit and pray for those who are “sick” and “shut in?” Because we are all aware on some level of the interconnectedness of the mind, body and spirit. Because on some level we all appreciate the power of the invisible over the visible world. For we know that we wrestle not against what we can see, touch and feel but against powers and principalities that can and do affect our biological, psychological social. And ultimately our spiritual selves. That said, we need to deepen our understanding or perish for the lack of it.

And our community is without question perishing for its ignorance about depression. Here’s what’s the statistics say. Untreated or under treated depression will be the leading cause of disability ahead of all other diseases by the year 2005 and will be the second largest killer after heart disease by 2020, according to the World Health Organization. Suicide, the worst possible outcome of depression is the third leading cause of death in young people ages 15 to 24.

The trend of depressed younger people, particularly in communities of color, committing suicide or engaging in life threatening activities is alarming. Faith based counselors, teachers, parents and others on the front lines working with the youth community would do well to receive training or to be at least aware of some of the basic risk factors for suicide in the youth (and the adult) community. Some of these risk factor are as follows:

• History of depression or mental illness
• History of alcohol and substance abuse
• Family history of suicide, domestic violence or child abuse
• Physical illness
• Easy access to firearms
• Afraid to seek treatment because of cultural and religious beliefs
• Impulsive/Aggressive tendencies
• Drug or alcohol use
• Isolative behaviors
• Complete loss of faith or hope in God.

There have been many recent advances in the treatment of depression but current research findings and state-of-the-art treatment of most mental illnesses rarely reach those who might benefit most from vital information. Full Circe Health has been blessed to have formed relationships with over 60 churches to train ministers and counselors and provide Christ-centered counseling services when needed in the fight against depression and suicide. The results of such a collaborative effort have been dramatic. Christ-centered mental health professionals who can provide training and counseling and medical treatment can be of immense help to churches which are usually in a position to lead many who suffer with clinical depression and suicidal thoughts to professional help that in no way invalidates or diminishes the healing power of God—who has put life and death before us.

Choosing life might require us to take a number of actions in faith: from wearing glasses, to changing a diet, to exercising more frequently, to undergoing a surgical procedure, to taking a medication such as Prozac—all in addition to Prayer.

This article is an excerpt from an upcoming book on depression by Derek H. Suite, M.D. who is an adjunct professor at Nyack University’s Alliance Graduate School of Counseling. Dr. Suite is the founder and president of Full Circle Health and of the Full Circle Life Enrichment Center, which will be hosting a gospel brunch on Saturday October 2, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. For further information or appointments, please call 1 (800) 518-FULL or ( 718-518-7600 or visit www.fullcirclehealth.org.