Is it okay for a Christian to take mental medicines like anti-depressants?

from the old testament

• God gives us wisdom and provides knowledge to us (Proverbs 2:6).
• True wisdom and knowledge come from fearing God and having a relationship with Him. God is the source the wisdom and knowledge we should desire to have (Proverbs 9:10).

from the new testament

• Jesus provided healing to the servant of a Roman official by speaking that healing aloud, not using physical or medical means to accomplish it (Matthew 8:13).
• Jesus healed a woman with a chronic physical illness. She touched His robe to be healed, and Jesus then spoke to her and declared her healed. He also commended her faith and said that it had a large part in her healing (Matthew 9:22).
• Understanding truth and its place in our lives can bring freedom from mental issues like depression and anxiety (John 8:32).
• As believers, we are called to renew our minds and be transformed. This renewing and focusing on the things of God, rather than the world, can help combat negative thoughts that can cause feelings of anxiety and depression (Romans 12:2).
• Our bodies are not simply physical, but temples for the Holy Spirit once we have accepted Christ into our lives. We are to honor God with how we use and treat our bodies with this truth in mind (1 Corinthians 6:19–20).
• Christians should carry each other’s burdens. By supporting each other and listening to the problems and fears of other Christians, we can help alleviate some of the mental strain and stress that could lead to things like anxiety and depression (Galatians 6:2).
• By putting on the armor of God, we may avoid some of the things that can cause fear, sadness, and other negative mental feelings (Ephesians 6:10–18).
• We are to focus our mental attention on things that are fully good, pure, admirable, and lovely. When we do this, we have less room in our minds for depressing, anxious, and stressful thoughts to take hold (Philippians 4:6).
• God has given us the gift of discovering many things, including medical treatments. He is the source of wisdom and knowledge and the good they bring us (Colossians 2:2–3).
• Christians should focus on things that are centered of God and connected to every aspect of His character and presence. Doing this instead of focusing on earthly things can replace negative, harmful thoughts with peaceful truth and clarity (Colossians 3:2).
• When we are anxious or afraid, we can remember that God is with us and, with that knowledge, we can have peace that, ultimately, we are safe and secure in Him (Hebrews 13:5–6).
• When we are ill, God may choose to heal us with or without medication. Believers are encouraged to have other Christians pray for healing (James 5:14–15).
• Christians should lift other Christians up in prayer and share their concerns or ailments, so they may be prayed for (James 5:16).
• The anxieties we feel can be taken to God because He cares deeply for us and will listen to the things that are causing our anxious thoughts (1 Peter 5:7).

implications for today

Many mental health disorders generate in the psyche. For example, we may feel depressed because of wrong thinking or unresolved emotions. Feelings of anxiety may result from an unwillingness to trust God. However, many mental health disorders are biologically based, meaning the feelings of anxiety or depression are not coming from a particular situation or lack of processing on our part, but rather from a malfunction in our physical body. There are various neurochemicals in the brain that are believed to be implicated in disorders, such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, attention deficit disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and other similar disorders. The medications designed to treat these disorders are made to target the brain’s chemicals and help restore them to their proper balance.

In the sense that psychological medications can promote our health, they are like medicines that treat physical ailments. However, there are considerations to make when contemplating beginning mental health medication. Because many mental health disorders begin in the psyche, other forms of therapy are often a good addition to medication, as well as discovering if there is a spiritual component to what is going on. Medication should not be taken in an effort to avoid dealing with any psychological roots of a disturbance or to avoid dealing with spiritual issues. Our true freedom is found in Christ. God is the true Healer, whether it be through medications or not, and that is something we need to remember when dealing with mental health challenges.