Christian Author Shelia Walsh Warns the Church to ‘Wake Up’ to the Depression ‘Epidemic’ Among Pastors

Shelia Walsh, a renowned author and singer, knows firsthand how difficult coping with depression and mental illness can be.

In her new book It’s Okay Not to Be Okay: Moving Forward One Day at a Time, Walsh uses her experience with mental health issues to share eight steps to help women move forward, taking things day by day. 

Twenty-six years ago, the well-known speaker and Bible teacher made the decision to check herself into a psychiatric ward. When she received her diagnosis, she learned that she was suffering from clinical depression—a condition that affects more than 16.1 million American adults. No group or profession is exempt from being affected—even pastors and church leaders. 

Walsh opens up to The Christian Post about her struggle coming to terms with her diagnosis. She told the outlet, “At the time, I was serving as the co-host of The 700 Club on Christian Broadcasting Network. I knew how to put on a good face and isolate myself from people. I was surrounded by people, a ministry leader, but so desperately lonely and depressed. Up until that point, I’d based so much of God’s love on me getting everything right. When you end up in a psych hospital, that platform has been pulled from beneath you.” 

Walsh also grappled with the misconception that those who are churchgoers should not battle mental…