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.”

May is mental Health Awareness Month, and if you’re looking for ways to build yourself up, go ahead and sweat it out in the gym—something researchers from Oxford and Yale say could decrease mental health challenges. Christian singer Michelle Williams agrees that exercise has helped her mental health.

Depression. It’s one of the most taboo subjects in the Christian community, yet with depression affecting more than 19 million Americans each year, 12 million of them being women (According to Mental Health America), I am willing to bet that at least half of them are filling the pews of churches everywhere.