Interview with Rev. Michael Scholtes, Dealing with Depression

Michael Scholtes is the author of "Darkwater: A Pastor's Memoir of Depression and Faith." He is a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and has lived with depression for most of his life. He talks openly about the intersection of mental illness and faith, and finds these discussions to be healing and helpful for everyone involved.

I have known depression inside and out since childhood, including two hospital stays and multiple suicide attempts. And yet I have a strong faith in God, and I have been living out that faith as a parish pastor for the past fifteen years. In my book "Darkwater" (Boyle & Dalton Press, 2022), I tell my life story from the perspective of both depression and faith. I describe it as two voices that I hear constantly -- the "Dark Voice" of depression that tells me that I am worthless and horrible, and the still, small voice of God who whispers to me that I am beloved and worthy