Wilson shared openly about his own mental health challenges in his most recent book, Love Is Oxygen: How God Can Give You Life and Change Your World, and blog posts. He blogged earlier this summer that he had dealt with “severe depression throughout most of my life and contemplated suicide on multiple occasions.”
On social media, he regularly encouraged others dealing with similar challenges with messages like, “I’m a Christian who also struggles with depression. This exists, and it’s okay to admit it.”
Breaking down the stigma of mental illness is one of the goals of Anthem of Hope, the nonprofit the pastor founded with his wife, Juli, in 2016. Anthem of Hope creates resources for the church to assist those dealing with depression, anxiety, self-harm, addiction and suicide.
Eaton said Wilson wanted to especially help those who were dealing with suicidal thoughts.
“Tragically, Jarrid took his own life,” Eaton said.
“Over the years, I have found that people speak out about what they struggle with the most,” Eaton added.
.@JarridWilson, a California church leader, author, and mental health advocate, died by suicide Monday evening at age 30 https://t.co/WiZD0niMS9
— Christianity Today (@CTmagazine) September 10, 2019