Dianna Hobbs Bravely Shares Son’s Mental Health Battle to Break Stigma in the Black Christian Community

Jun 18

Dianna Hobbs is helping break mental health stigma in the Black Christian community, sharing her son's battle with bipolar disorder and OCD.

Written By Rebecca Johnson // EEW Magazine Online

In a rare and poignant revelation, Dianna Hobbs, founder of Empowering Everyday Women Ministries, has publicly shared for the first time about her youngest son Kaleb's battle with Bipolar II Disorder and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in a new blog post.

This landmark disclosure comes as Hobbs, 47, aims to break the stigma surrounding mental health in the Black Christian community, where such struggles are often dismissed or stigmatized. Kaleb, now 18, has given Dianna permission to share his story.

The ministry leader, wife, and mother of four, a prominent figure in faith-based empowerment, shares her son's mental health journey with raw honesty in her devotion titled "When Life Looks Crazy." Her companion podcast, where she gets even more transparent, is available on all major podcast platforms.

In the devotion, the preacher’s daughter recounts the turmoil of watching Kaleb wrestle with severe mood swings, deep sadness, and a restless mind. Initially suspected to be depression, it was later diagnosed as Bipolar II Disorder and OCD. “Receiving those diagnoses was like being handed a map to navigate the uncharted territory of Kaleb's struggles,” she wrote.

Hobbs’ openness is especially significant in a community where mental health issues are frequently misunderstood. Many Black Christians face negative attitudes and shaming regarding mental health struggles, often being told that such disorders are "demons," "spiritual weakness," or "succumbing to Satan's trickery." Hobbs' message seeks to challenge these harmful narratives and open an important dialogue about mental health.

Who better to do it than Hobbs? She is no stranger to adversity. Hobbs has shared her own experiences with anxiety, depression, and PTSD following a traumatic brain injury in 2019. She explained that her personal journey through mental health challenges has equipped her to support Kaleb through his. “Had I not walked the dark and winding road of my own mental health journey, I would have faltered, hesitant to steer my child down that fraught path,” Hobbs reflected.

The nonprofit leader has dedicated her life to uplifting and inspiring everyday women to offer their best to God. Her blog, Your Daily Cup of Inspiration, and its companion podcast reach millions worldwide. EEW Magazine Online, which she owns, is a leading publication for Black Christian women, providing a steady stream of news, inspiration, and empowerment.

In her devotion, Hobbs is clear about the agonizing process that prepared her to guide Kaleb. She describes the difficulties of navigating a world where her mind had “forgotten its own rhythms.” Yet, using the tumultuous origin story of the biblical hero, Moses, she emphasizes the unexpected blessings that emerged from her trials. With a combination of prayer, therapy, and medication, Hobbs said Kaleb began to find stability.

Though Hobbs believes in the miracle of modern medicine and the ministry of well-trained therapists, she emphasizes the importance of faith and divine guidance on the journey and invites her audience to exercise crazy, radical faith.

“Crazy faith moves mountains, brings sense to the senseless, and introduces sanity into the midst of chaos,” she wrote.

Hobbs' revelation is not just a personal story of struggle and triumph but a call to the Black Christian community to address mental health openly and compassionately. By sharing Kaleb's story, Hobbs hopes to encourage others facing similar battles and to foster an environment where mental health issues can be discussed without shame or stigma.

This brave disclosure underscores the need for greater understanding and support for mental health within the Black faith community. Her influential voice is opening doors for much-needed conversations, helping to break down barriers and offer hope to those who struggle in silence.

Hobbs continues to exemplify resilience and faith, living out her belief that she is "more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ." Her life, marked by miraculous recoveries and a steadfast commitment to ministry, serves as a powerful testament to the strength of faith and the critical need to address mental health with honesty and compassion.

To hear her open about about her son’s story on her podcast, press play to listen below.