Mental illness is not a result of sin
My church often implied that God would cure my depression and my panic attacks if I "got right" with Him. I can't tell you how many hours I spent begging and pleading in prayer to be happier. It never got better for any length of time. I think one reason I was so afraid was because of this... if I wasn't happier, then I must not be "right" with God, and therefore I was still going to hell. They also said everything bad came from the devil or demons, but God sometimes lets the demons test you. And they often preached that sometimes sickness is a result of sin. All I know is that I can't live with that kind of fear again... constant fear of going to hell, of not repenting enough.
A recent ABC documentary on mental illness, called Shadow Voices, talked about the role of faith in mental illness. Specifically, they mentioned two ideas: "Avoid implying that if the person can 'get things right with God' or 'confess' that the person will be cured" and "Remember that this is not a punishment from God or caused by demons or the devil."
Here is an excerpt from an article about mental illness from a Christian point of view:
"First, some Christians don't really understand what a mental illness is. Perhaps you've heard of schizophrenia... clinical depression... or bi-polar mood disorder (also called manic depression). Did you know they are like diabetes or heart disease? They are not a problem of willpower, character weakness, or personal choice. When we confuse illness with personal failure, we create a stigma. Would someone with heart disease, diabetes, or cataracts find it helpful to be told they need more willpower?"
Secondly, we create a stigma by making poor, rather than helpful, connections between our Christian faith and mental illness. It's harmful to say, "If you had enough faith or prayed harder, the depression would go away." Worse yet, some people say that the illness is the result of personal sin. Though in some way all illnesses (mumps, flu, and common colds included) result from living in a fallen world, mental illness is not caused by a person's sin. (In John 9 Jesus disagreed when disciples thought a man's blindness was the result of personal sin.)
Here are more links about mental illness and sin. Some of these are also from a Christian point of view, proving that even some churches (HEALTHY churches) don't believe mental illness is a result of sin. Even the Google links that (without reading the full page, just the summary) seem to indicate it *is* a result of sin, upon closer inspection rather indicate it is a result of the original sin, much as churches often believe physical illness is a result of the original sin.
Mental Illness Isn't A SinScapegoating and Mental Illness Stigma
"I am sad to constantly hear fundamentalist Christian radio and television preach the message that, in order to be a Bible believer, one must oppose psychology, modern education, much medicine and other kinds of knowledge. Christians have done much to contribute to a kind of hostility to knowledge that God has given for good and compassionate purposes... Prescriptions of scripture memory and filling the mind with scripture are common. Scripture memory and prayer are important parts of Christian formation and discipleship, but they are not primary treatments for mental illness. If the problem is primarily a matter of cognition or behavior, these methods may be appropriate for a Christian believer, but it would be unethical to treat complex mental and emotional problems with only prayer and scripture. This is simplistic, and seems to be more concerned with theological positions than compassionate and truthful help." - Internet Monk
"Ecclesiastical leaders are spiritual leaders and should not be expected to take the role of mental health professionals. Persons suffering from mental disorders should consult professionals." - a broadcast of Living Essentials at Brigham Young University