Heyyy! How are you? I truly hope you are doing well. As for me, I’m good, I can’t complain. Today’s post is a bit different from my previous posts. It is a conversation (interview style) I had with a fellow sister in Christ, doctor and new friend, Atasha Jordan, MD, MBA. Through our conversation, Dr. Jordan shared on the intersectionality between Christianity and mental health as well as her role as a Christian in medicine. Listen, this year has been tough and wellness in our mental health is even more important now. I learned a lot from this discussion and I hope you receive from this too. So without further ado, let’s get right into it.
ME: Hi, Dr. Jordan! Thank you again for having this conversation. Let’s begin by getting to know a bit about you! Tell us who Dr. Jordan is. What’s your background and profession and what led you to your career interest?
DR. JORDAN: Hi Jess! First, thanks so much for creating the space to talk about Christianity and Mental Health! I always find it challenging to answer the question of “who are you?” because every day, I hope to evolve and grow into a better version of myself! But, in short, I’d say that I am an Afro-Caribbean, Christian, woman, doctor, businessperson, creator, daughter, sister, and friend! My name is Dr. Atasha (uh-TASH-uh) Jordan, and I was born in Barbados. My family moved to the US when I was seven years old, and I grew up in South Florida and Pennsylvania. Christianity was a central part of my upbringing. My family went to church every Sunday, often spending most of the day there! Throughout my educational experiences, from high school and college at Harvard to medical school and business school at UPenn, I have remained active in Christian communities.
When I started medical school, I had no idea that I would become a psychiatrist. I thought I was going to be a surgeon or sports medicine doctor! It’s a reminder that God’s promises for us often look much different than we would predict. However, I know that God really had this plan for me all along, but I honestly cannot imagine my life any differently than the way it is now.
I am blessed to work in the hospital to help patients who struggle with mental illnesses. At the same time, I am an active member of the global church community, where discussions about mental health are still taboo in many ways. I hope to continuously work to break down these barriers and to help Christians to feel comfortable reaching out for help with mental health issues.
ME: What does being a Christian in medicine (more specifically, a Christian in psychiatry) mean to you?
DR. JORDAN: For me, being a Christian in medicine means that I am fulfilling my calling! When I was four years old, my pastor prophesied that I would become a doctor. It’s something I hung onto for much of my life. I now know that his prophecy was about more than a job or career. God’s call on my life to be a doctor – and a Christian doctor at that – is about the impact I can have on my patients and the Christian community at large.
Being a Christian psychiatrist means that my background provides a cultural understanding of the religious practices and beliefs of my Christian patients. Many psychiatric clinical presentations include religious preoccupations. In fact, the differentiating line between devout religious practice and psychosis can sometimes be hard to pinpoint. Many psychiatric diagnoses evaluate behavior relative to the norm for a specific cultural context. To understand faith-based cultural norms, you must either intentionally study other religions or engage in practice yourself.
As a Christian psychiatry resident, I use my personal experience and personal faith as a Christian to understand my patient’s perspectives. My Christianity also heightens my sensitivity to the religious beliefs and spiritual needs of my non-Christian patients.
ME: Is Christianity related to mental health? What is the intersection between the two.
DR. JORDAN: Christianity and mental health intersect in so many ways. One of the most important intersections between Christianity and mental health is the fact that religious practice is a proven protective factor. For patients with a genetic predisposition to mental illnesses, a faith-based practice can help to reduce the chances that someone experiences mental illnesses. Additionally, in patients who have mental illnesses, religion has been shown to help with recovery. This mental health benefit is absolutely true for Christians.
One of the most significant mental health benefits of religious practice for Christians is the support that Christians receive from trusted members in their church communities. This social support is helpful for those who suffer from addictions, depression, anxiety, and more. Bolstering one’s spiritual health through reading the Bible and getting involved in ministry can also help to improve emotional wellbeing and overall mental health.
Isaiah 41: 13 (NKJV)
For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand,
Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’
ME: In what ways can Christians be more involved with addressing and taking care of their mental health?
DR. JORDAN: One of the most important things that Christians can do related to mental health is first acknowledging that mental health and spiritual health are not the same. As Christians, we must be able to recognize when someone needs to pray about an issue, versus when they need to seek medical help from a primary care doctor or a psychiatrist.
In short, spiritual health relates to our sense of self and purpose, in addition to our connection with nature, others, and God. Mental health, on the other hand, relates to emotional, cognitive, and behavioral wellbeing, which stems from biology, neurology, environment, and social makeups!
I recorded a lecture where I used scripture and clinical literature to differentiate mental health and spiritual health. Feel free to check it out on YouTube!
ME: Fun question! I love all genres of Jesus music and I always end my posts with a song reminder. So my question for you is do you have a favorite genre of Jesus music and what Christian song do you want to remind readers of?
I love this question, mostly because I love music so much!!! I can’t say that I have one favorite genre of Christian music. I listen to many genres and artists. What I listen to depends on my vibe at the time! I do know that I LOVE everything by Israel Houghton! His music truly takes you to a place of genuine worship and has carried me through both joyful and challenging seasons in my life.
Reckless Love stands out to me as a song that we can all go to in any season of life. Whether we’re on a peak or in a valley, it’s reassuring to think about the reckless love that God showed for us by sending his Son to die on our behalf!
Song Reminder: Reckless Love – Bethel Music
And there you have it! The conversation does not end here. We hope you continue to have conversations like this in your circles so that people may be healed.
You may reach out to Dr. Jordan at her blog www.atashajordan.com or on social media as @atashajordan on Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest!
Be blessed.
One Reply to “Christianity, Medicine & Mental Health”