This week is Mental Health Awareness week, and Lucy Macdonald says, ‘It takes courage to speak up. But when we do, we make space for others to do the same. The Church can be a place where honesty is welcome, pain is not judged, and healing is seen as a process, not a performance.’
In early April 2025, reports surfaced that Hailey Bieber had asked for prayer for her husband, Justin, during what appeared to be a particularly difficult season for him. Though the details weren’t fully public, sources close to the couple shared that Justin had been struggling with emotional heaviness, and Hailey’s request was a quiet but bold reminder: even those who appear to have it all still need help, hope, and healing.
Justin has been open over the years about battling depression, anxiety, and the lingering effects of past trauma
Justin has been open over the years about battling depression, anxiety, and the lingering effects of past trauma. His 2020 docu-series Seasons offered a behind-the-scenes look at his struggles with prescription drug use, emotional exhaustion, and a deep sense of purposelessness. Despite his global fame, he described feeling profoundly isolated. In a follow-up documentary, he shared that at one point, the emotional pain became so intense he wondered if life was worth continuing. He said, “There were times when I was really, really suicidal… I would rather not feel this than feel this.” That kind of honesty has not only helped break down stigma, but has also created space for others to acknowledge their own battles.
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This year, Justin Bieber continued to open up about where he’s been and how he’s doing. In an instagram post this month, he shared, “I sometimes think I’m gonna get exposed if I tell people how selfish I am… But the more honest I am about where I really am, the more freedom I actually have.”
His courage reminds us that healing often begins when we stop pretending and start talking. His openness isn’t just brave, it’s necessary. That’s why vulnerability matters. Research published in Psychology Today emphasizes that staying connected to others during emotional distress significantly improves resilience. When we feel safe enough to reach out, healing can begin. Brené Brown puts it this way: “Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome.”
Faith isn’t a shortcut around pain, it’s what carries us through it. And sometimes, faith looks like admitting we need help. Just ask Jo Fothergill.
Mental illness doesn’t vanish with a prayer, and that doesn’t make faith any less powerful. Jo Fothergill, who with her husband, Richard started The Filling Station, knows this firsthand. After two births, she faced terrifying bouts of postnatal depression. Her story is honest and mentions sleepless nights, suicidal thoughts, hospitalization and electroconvulsive therapy. And yet, through the darkest nights it was her faith in Jesus, the unwavering support of her church community and proper medical care that carried her through.
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“I believe God has used, and continues to use, my depression to help others,” Jo says. “While I would never wish anyone to go through what I experienced, I can see how God brings good out of everything.” She also credits the prayers of others for carrying her when she couldn’t see the light herself.
Jo speaks openly about the importance of self-care. “When the bad days come,” she explains, “I know that putting up a ‘Help, God!’ prayer, going for a run, having a good cry, and praying with Richard all help. I’ve also learned not to withdraw, but to call a friend, and to be kind to myself.”
Christian counsellor Renée Sutton speaks into the tension between spiritual and physical healing. “We tend to think a spiritual solution means only spiritual action. But we’re whole people. We don’t live in silos. We often spiritually bypass mental illness. But sometimes, God wants us to feel what we’ve buried, and to walk through healing step by step.”
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Jo’s story reminds us that mental illness is a real and complex condition, not a character flaw or spiritual failure. Healing is rarely linear and often requires many tools: medication, therapy, exercise, community, vulnerability, and prayer. It also calls for compassion, not quick fixes, but patient love that listens and stays.
In a world that prizes strength, honesty about weakness is radical. Psalm 34:18 tells us, “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” We’re not called to pretend everything is fine—we’re called to bring our whole selves, brokenness and all, into his light.
So whether you’re struggling with anxiety, depression, or burnout, or supporting someone who is, know this: you’re not alone. Jesus is near, even when he feels far. And as Jo’s story and Justin’s journey show, God often works through doctors, friends, spouses, and even strangers who pause to pray.
It takes courage to speak up. But when we do, we make space for others to do the same. The Church can be a place where honesty is welcome, pain is not judged, and healing is seen as a process, not a performance.
After all, as Justin and Jo remind us: brokenness is not the end of the story. It’s often where grace begins.
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