If you think Christian platitudes and generic encouragements will yank someone out of depression’s grip, a GRAMMY® Award-winning gospel and R&B singer, who personally battles depression, says, “Your churchy clichés do NOT work when it comes to depression or other mental illnesses.”

Those who knew and loved 30-year-old Jarrid Wilson, a California pastor, author and mental health advocate who died by suicide, are absolutely gutted. The associate pastor at megachurch Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, CA, tweeted about “suicidal thoughts” before killing himself.

These are crazy times for the cast members of Fox’s hit show, “Empire,” ever since one of its stars, Jussie Smollett, filed a police report alleging a hate crime. Taraji P. Henson, known for her role as Cookie Lyon on the series, says she keeps things together through therapy, and faith in God.

God turns our pain into purpose and Gospel singer and Broadway star Michelle Williams is a living example of that truth. The “Say Yes” singer has said yes to the calling of taking the stigma off of mental illness.

Popular Christian blogger and podcaster, Dianna Hobbs, may be a well-known encourager of women around the world. But that doesn’t mean discouragement hasn’t touched her own family. She opens up about how her own sister attempted suicide.

GRAMMY® Award-winning Contemporary Christian singer, Mandisa Hundley, who has battled depression, responded to the sad news of designer Kate Spade’s suicide Tuesday. She shares her own experience and tells others battling depression, “You are not alone.”