Cross Roads Church’s Sunday service carried a message of faith and mental health awareness.
SAN ANTONIO — Within the walls of Cross Roads Church, the sounds of praise and worship rise alongside another important message: mental health matters.
Sunday’s service included more than a sermon, it was also a call to action for mental health awareness, particularly in communities of color. Leaders from the Bridges to Care initiative, a program of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Greater San Antonio, are bringing resources directly to the pews.
“Prayer leads to action,” said Genesis Williamson, cohort coordinator lead for Bridges to Care. “That’s the heart of NAMI. We don’t get rid of those [spiritual] tools but we add to them with practical things that people can apply to continue to help.”
As a pastor’s daughter, Williamson said she understands how spiritual spaces often become safe havens, but acknowledged the need for more tangible support.
“I realize that individuals need practical resources and sometimes you don’t know how to meet that need,” she said.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, only one in three Black adults with mental illness receive treatment. That’s a statistic local youth like Cyrus McGarrah, 17, are trying to change.
“Just raised in Black households, mental health isn’t something that’s often talked about,” said McGarrah, a teen mental health champion with Bridges to Care. “Being able to help others hopefully get to learn about it is an honor.”
McGarrah said while prayer is valuable, it shouldn’t be the only answer.
“Being able to talk to people — having people who recognize that you need help and are able to be there through your ups and downs — is very important,” he said.
In Bexar County, one in five residents lives with a mental illness — that’s approximately 400,000 people, according to NAMI Greater San Antonio.
“You just never know what somebody’s going through,” said Jaycob Quillin, another teen mental health champion with the program. “It’s important to stay open-minded to what others are experiencing.”
Bridges to Care is exclusive to NAMI Greater San Antonio and focuses on combining faith with mental health literacy by meeting people where they are — spiritually and emotionally. Click here to learn more.
Cross Roads Church is located at: 8102 Midcrown Drive, Windcrest, TX.