‘I am a pastor’s wife and have struggled with depression, so I decided to use social media to encourage those who also are feeling weak.’

‘God kept taking me back to 2 Corinthians 12:9: Boast in weakness. So I did. I talked about mental illness, medication, therapy, exhaustion, and the crushing pressure on Christian women - especially leaders’ wives - to be perpetually perfect, endlessly helpful, and never in need,’ says Kathryn Segal.

I never imagined I’d be the one writing this. People like me don’t get depressed—at least that’s what I thought… and fought. The past five years had been a relentless onslaught: breast cancer at 32, the chaos of COVID lockdowns, £30,000 stolen through financial fraud, life-saving surgeries, and the kind of soul-deep grief that lingers. I was running on fumes.

I tried everything to feel better—long walks, extra-strong vitamin D, journaling, gym sessions, even Christian counselling. But still, the darkness didn’t lift. Eventually, I had to admit something that felt both nauseating and crushing: I was depressed. I couldn’t fix it with effort or positivity. I needed medical help.