This Mental Health Awareness week, Christian parents can turn to the Bible for help with the well-being of their children

As Christian parents, we’re probably used to wanting to find out what the Bible has to say about the issues facing us and our families. We want to use scripture to help us navigate the world, and whilst sometimes we can easily see what the Bible has to say on a topic (there is an abundance of wisdom on navigating conflict well, for example), at other times it can be a little trickier. 

This is, I think, the case when it comes to mental health and wellbeing—not least because we don’t see the phrase used in scripture! But the good news is, the concept is alive and well from Genesis to Revelation through the Hebrew word shalom, which can be translated as wholeness and wellbeing, but also extends to friendship, salvation, and justice. 

What is Shalom? 

Shalom is our vision of what positive mental health looks like—and it’s a whole-society affair, spanning our relationships with one another and politics, being rooted in who God is and who God says we are. We see this in Genesis, where shalom is on full display in Eden, as Adam and Eve enjoy the fullness of relationship with one another and with God. The Bible is clear that we were not made to flourish alone. They live within the boundaries of Eden, enjoy nourishing food and beautiful surroundings, and live free from shame.