USA (MNN) — More than one in three Americans entered 2026 with a mental-health resolution. That’s a 5% increase from last year, according to the American Psychiatric Association’s Healthy Minds Poll.
For Dean Vander Mey of Set Free, the trend comes as no surprise. He says: “America is not doing so well. We’re one of the sickest nations on planet Earth. But you have to realize that we’re also very spiritually sick.”
Many mainstream approaches focus only on physical and psychological care, often overlooking the spiritual dimension. Vander Mey explains:
“People don’t even know what’s happening to them. They don’t even connect the spiritual dimension to what’s happening to them emotionally and physically.”
(Photo courtesy of Fa Barboza via Unsplash)
From a biblical perspective, there is a whole-person view of health found in Scripture:
“If you look at a biblical worldview, 1 Thessalonians 5:23 says, ‘May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless for the coming of the Lord.’ So a biblical worldview would include a spiritual dimension and mental health,” explains Vander Mey.
He adds that people who recognize the spiritual dimension and follow biblical guidance can “put on the armor of God” (Eph. 6:10-18) for protection. Those who don’t may be more vulnerable.
“Because of the spiritual effects,” he says, “it’s affecting our soul, which is our mind, will and emotion, and now it’s affecting our body.”
The spiritual dimension involves the soul and the burdens it carries — sin, as well as guilt, anger, unforgiveness, and shame. But Vander Mey says God’s desire is for people to be free:
“The Lord doesn’t want us carrying sin even one day, because it’s going to be a heavy burden,” he says.
The process of soul healing begins with reconciliation with God. “Let us cut off the sin that so easily entangles us. Let’s get rid of all the heavy weights that hinder us!” says Vander Mey. It includes recognizing the burden, confessing it, and receiving forgiveness and help.
Vander Mey adds that following through on a New Year’s mental-health resolution can include daily time with God — confessing when needed, and receiving His help as part of an ongoing journey of healing.
“It’s very important that before we even lay our head down, that we forgive those people that day that may have hurt us, so that we can have a clean slate with God before we even go to bed,” he says.
Set Free addresses these issues through its Freedom Appointment, which is open to anyone. You can find more information about this opportunity here.
For more help or to learn about Set Free’s approach, visit their website.
Header photo courtesy of Maximilien T’Scharner via Unsplash.
