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I am married, have one child and expecting another one soon. This last year has been very stressful for my family. My mom was diagnosed with a serious, maybe terminal disease. My husband has had multiple problems with his job. My child was sick for a few months (now she is better, thank God) and all of this was on top of having to deal with COVID-19 and other family and marital issues with which we have been dealing for years.

Recently, my husband told me that he is depressed and experiencing chest pains (checked out multiple times and was told that it is not cardiac related), anxiety, and lately suicidal thoughts. This is primarily because of stress at work. This has been very difficult for me to handle especially with being pregnant with a second child! I just discovered that my mom is on antidepressants. I was shocked. I know she has been dealing with a lot but I did not know that it had gotten that bad!

I feel that I am surrounded by depression. My husband wants to quit his job and I feel he is ready to just give up. I feel angry at him, angry at God at times for all these problems which have come up at this time. I do not know how to take care of my mom or my husband or my child or the new baby that's coming soon! I also always felt that antidepressants were for people who do not really know God or have faith. My husband and I are both professionals in the medical field and are critical regarding people's overuse of medications for mental health issues. I do not know how to deal with all of this! I am losing patience with my husband and I just want him to get it together and get back to some kind of normal life.

Do you have any advice for me? I have no one to talk to about these issues. Are there any books perhaps that can help my husband? How can I be patient and handle all of this pressure? I am fearful for the future and am worried that my kids will also have mental health issues if they see their father like this. Is this more common in North America? Is this normal?

My husband is a good man who has dealt with a lot of failures in his past! He prays a lot, reads the Bible, takes communion and tries his best to do what is good in God's eyes. My mom likewise, despite her diagnosis and the pandemic, still goes to church once a week (if she can) and takes communion and she prays and reads the Bible. All this is not because of lack of praying. I have prayed with tears for God to help lift this depression, but so far my prayers have not been answered.

I apologize again for the very long email but as I mentioned I am completely lost and do not know what to do at all!

Depression is a mental health illness. It can range from mild situational depression that may improve with brief psychotherapy or mild medicinal therapy or with time. This type is often an overreaction to a specific event, but eventually tapers off as the situation resolves. The other extreme is clinical depression, which often requires both medicine and psychotherapy to work through the symptoms. Chronic depression is often biological and not triggered by a specific situation. Mental health can be a very challenging health issue. Illnesses are not necessarily due to a lack of faith. Therefore, let the physicians take care of their illnesses as they see fit, and conduct your life as best as you can. It is understandable that you feel extremely stressed. Thus, it is important for you to have your spiritual support system. Join a book club, attend a weekly prayer meeting, go out to lunch with friends, etc.      
 
This is a very good book about joy that may help you through your struggles and provide a positive perspective toward your loved ones:
https://stdemianabookstore.org/shop/books/english-books/english-books-spirituality/e-putting-joy-into-practice/.