Rising Above Labels: How Pastors Can Help People Find Belonging Beyond Diagnosis

Loneliness deepens when people are reduced to a label—“the anxious one,” “the depressed member.” This article explores how pastors can help people reclaim their identity in Christ, create communities of belonging, and push back against stigma in mental health ministry.

When Labels Lead to Loneliness

Pastors and church leaders are often the first people members turn to when they are struggling with mental health. Too often, though, the language we use or the categories we apply reduce someone to a diagnosis. When people are primarily seen as “the depressed member,” “the addict,” or “the anxious one,” they feel invisible and alone.

Research shows that stigma is one of the biggest barriers to seeking help. According to the American Psychiatric Association, over one-third of people say stigma prevents them from getting mental health care. For example, one of our keynote speakers from the Loneliness Summit shared that only 25% of Black Americans seek treatment for mental illness compared to 40% of White Americans. According to NIMH, this disparity is tied to both systemic barriers and stigma.

When a label overshadows a person’s humanity, the result is not just shame,it is isolation.

Identity in Christ vs. Identity in a Label

Scripture reminds us that every believer’s identity is secure in Christ:

“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith”
(Galatians 3:26).

Yet in practice, many Christians battling mental illness feel their illness becomes their entire identity. A recent study in the Journal of Mental Health found that people who strongly identified with their mental health diagnosis were more likely to report loneliness and lower life satisfaction.

As church leaders, we can counter this by affirming the wholeness of each person and reminding them that they are beloved children of God, not defined by their struggles.

What Hurts vs. What Heals

Harmful approaches:

• Referring to someone only by their diagnosis (“She struggles with depression”).
  
  
• Using shorthand labels that reduce a person to their illness.
  
  
• Assuming that treatment alone addresses their needs.
  
  

Helpful approaches:

• Affirming their whole identity in Christ, family, culture, and calling.
  
  
• Using people-first language (“a person living with anxiety” instead of “an anxious person”).
  
  
• Making space for testimonies that highlight resilience, not just struggle.
  
  

Practical Steps for Pastors and Leaders

Here are three ways you can begin shifting the culture in your church:

1. Preach and teach on identity in Christ
   Regularly remind your congregation that no label, diagnosis, or struggle can erase the truth that they are God’s children.
   
   
2. Train leaders in people-first language
   Encourage staff, elders, and small group leaders to avoid reducing people to labels. Even subtle language shifts can dismantle stigma.
   
   
3. Create circles of belonging
   Build peer support groups where members can share stories and find representation—spaces where “me too” becomes a bridge to healing.
   
   

The Role of Families and Caregivers

Caregivers and family members often feel the weight of labels too. When a loved one is “the depressed one,” the family carries that stigma as well. Pastors can support caregivers by:

• Acknowledging their unseen labor and emotional toll.
• Offering caregiver-specific support groups.
• Providing resources from organizations like NAMI Family Support.

Check  Out the Loneliness Summit

Breaking free from labels and fostering true belonging is part of the larger conversation happening at the Thrive & Cultivate Loneliness Summit.

This event will equip pastors and church leaders with:

• Practical strategies for addressing loneliness in ministry.
• Insights from leading experts on mental health and faith.
• Stories of hope and recovery to strengthen your congregation.

Register today and take the next step in cultivating a church community where no one is reduced to their struggle.

FAQs

Why do labels increase loneliness?
Labels can reduce a person to their illness, overshadowing their full identity and making them feel unseen or excluded.

How can pastors change language in their churches?
By modeling people-first language, preaching identity in Christ, and equipping leaders to affirm each person’s dignity.

What role do caregivers play in addressing loneliness?
Caregivers are often silent sufferers. Pastors can lighten their load by offering support groups, recognition, and resources.

Final Reflection

The gospel tells us that our truest name is “beloved.” Jesus did not define people by their afflictions but restored their dignity and invited them back into community. As pastors and leaders, we have the privilege of doing the same. When we refuse to let labels define people, we mirror the heart of Christ and open the door for true belonging.