Pastor Michael A. Wallonde, who heads the first Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York, says that mental health was not discussed in his family when he was younger. He is trying to change it for his congregation.
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It was his own mental health crisis that helped Michael A. Walrond Jr. understand and embrace mental health care. “Out of nowhere, I had suicidal thoughts,” recalls Wolond. He was in his late 30s at the time, already busy building his life and expanding his congregation, already at the first Corinthian Baptist in Harlem, New York.
His master’s degree in divinity was not accompanied by much training in clinical mental health care, so this subject was not part of his family life, growing up in New York City. “I grew up in a traditional West Indian Caribbean family,” he says. “That was definitely not talked about.”
Suicidal ideation – the idea of death caused by suicide – could be a sign of a serious mental illness, and Walrond had no idea that he was dealing with depression and anxiety. Research shows that clergy suffer a high percentage Burnout syndrome And often Struggle With the idea of suicide and self-harm. After his own suicidal ideation, Walrond quickly pursued mental health care.
Church participants will be gathering for a recent Sunday morning service at Harlem’s first Corinthian Baptist Church, a historic black neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City.
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He now believes therapy has saved his life.
Wolond wondered how many others in his community were suffering from silence. “Historically, I think there has been normalisation of trauma in the African-American community,” he says. “You’re not really seeing the impact of mental health.”
Today, Wolondo is fighting stigma about his profession, his community, and mental health in his congregation.
Bring mental health care to the church
Baptism takes place before Sunday service at the first Corinthian Baptist Church.
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Initially, Walrond hired a part-time therapist to work in his first Corinth. He stands in a church – he has built in congregations of thousands for over 20 years – and gestures “She was in this office” in the small office where his first therapist worked. He hired her with the prophecy that people would use her services, but he didn’t expect how much demand there would be. He recalls telling her, “Passion – many people are coming.”
Walrond noticed something else. People were often so badly towards the therapist’s office that they felt embarrassed to acknowledge their purpose. He decided that it would need to expand to places where people have become more comfortable.
Today, the church runs another nonprofit organization. It is called the Hope Center Funded through grants and congregation contributions. Lena Green, the center’s executive director, opens the door to the clinic in another building around the corner of the church. “Currently, we have seven clinicians on our staff: three doctors, one psychiatrist, three social workers and one psychologist,” explains Green, who has a doctorate in social work.
Dr. Lena Green, who holds a PhD in Social Work, directs the Church’s Hope Center. She and other clinicians work to stop the risk of suicide among young people in their communities.
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Green says they’ve made years of progress since they grew this mental health hub, but there’s still a widespread stigma in the community. Black teens and young people in recent years are especially popular. Increased mental health crisisincluding suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts. Getting closer to this subject can be difficult.
For many families, there is something I like to call a conspiracy of silence,” says Green. But we know we need to get help. ”
Green and Wolondo say they saw a unique opportunity to fold clinical health services into the church. It is already a place where people feel they can bring about their own mental suffering.
Gabriel Dolville, 14-year-old nephew of Dr. Lena Green, will listen to the church choir on a recent Sunday morning at Harlem’s first Corinthian Baptist church.
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But they are still fighting stigma over the idea of pursuing mental health treatment. Walrond says he tries to deny people the idea that seeking help from God is the only way to pursue spiritual happiness. “You can trust God and go see a doctor to get medicine for your high blood pressure,” he says. “When it comes to mental health issues, it’s suddenly a problem.”
“My generation, you know, my parents’ generation – if you’re talking to a therapist, if you’re getting help, you’re broken,” says Marcell Green Deauville, the first Corinthian congregation. Greendeauville’s son, Gabriel, is part of a church teenage group that aims to reduce the risk of suicide. She praises the group for helping the whole family through difficult times. But she says some assume that those who are pursuing treatment are still weak. “Something’s wrong, isn’t it?”
During a recent Sunday morning service, the sanctuary of Harlem’s first Corinthian Baptist Church.
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Still, she says the church has always been held as a sacred place to reveal vulnerability. The message from previous generations is, “If there is sharing, it should only be done in a church setting,” she says. The first Corinthian Baptist job is to show people that the treatment space is safe too.
I’ll make suicide public
One of Walrond’s strategies is to openly talk about suicide and mental health and dare to talk about others doing the same thing. It includes his services. In a video of a service several years ago, he tells the congregation, “I know the moment when people went to church and left church and experienced suicide.”
People are shaking, crying, embracing each other. Walrond encourages congregation members to do something brave. “People who are tired of life, and you are at that point when you are almost ready to give up today, I want you to come,” he tells them. “I want you to take a picture of the road today.”
Surprisingly, people headed straight ahead.
In preparing such services, Walrond says he, among other places, seeks guidance from the Bible. “You have a few people in the Bible who wanted to die because of the weight of responsibility and expectations. It’s no exception,” he explains. “Elijah – a prophet – he asked God to take his life. It was Moses who asked God to kill him.”
Church participants will listen as Pastor Michael A. Wallondo leads Sunday morning service at the first Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York City, New York, on Sunday, February 23, 2025.
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He believes there is no difference between mental needs and physical needs, including mental health. “Part of responsibility,” Walrond says, “it’s about treating people’s needs as sacred.”
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