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As we celebrated our nation’s 248th year of independence this month, I would like to take up the topic of mental health. We are facing an epidemic that is far worse than the pandemic of COVID 2019. Experts will tell us that 1 in 8 people suffer from mental illness in the world. Also, 1 in 5 people suffer from mental illness in the U.S. But Colorado experts have been saying for years that 1 in 3 people suffer from mental illness in our home state.
Mental health and illness are commonplace. Health defined is the state of complete physical, mental, and social, including spiritual, wellbeing and not merely the absence of disease. Back in 2000, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that five of the ten leading causes of disabilities were mental conditions: depression; schizophrenia; bipolar disorders; alcohol and substance abuse; and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
If you were sitting in worship in Colorado, look at the person sitting on each side of you, if they are not mentally ill, it may be you? Yet, Jesus with the Spirit of the Lord came “to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” I happen to believe that he is still willing to set us free today! Then, why do most of us have anxiety or feel depressed from time to time?
We live in a fallen world affected by sin. All of us are sinners (Rom. 3:23). Still, I believe that we can, with God’s help, overcome mental illness. God is for us. We, in the church, must foster a more compassionate, understanding, and supportive environment for everyone affected by mental health challenges. I am thankful for those in the church that provide rides (personal vehicles or with the church bus) to bring special needs friends to worship and other church activities. They help us to reflect a cross section of the community.
My understanding of mental health institutions likely comes from movies like the 1975 One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, starring Jack Nicholson, not an exact picture of reality. Mental health episodes happen frequently in community life. Often, we hold ourselves back from intervening due to the stigma attached to mental illness. On the other hand, if someone had a seizure in our midst we would likely move to action, making sure the individual was not harmed. Can we also move in the same way to assist someone having a breakdown mentally with Christ’s help? I believe we can.
Jesus came to offer abundant life (John 10:10b) to all. We should be proactive when it comes to recognition, intervention, treatment, and support of mental health; just as well as taking care of our physical bodies, we should offer attention to our mental health and well-being. Not every person that suffers from mental illness is possessed or oppressed by a demon, although we cannot rule this option out completely. Also, medicine has come a long way in helping our mental health remain balanced. Not all medications cause us to be zombies.
Our fast-paced lifestyles contribute to mental instability. We are working harder and working longer and finding ourselves at the end, weary and on burnout. Take time to rest, drink water, exercise by walking, and most importantly trust God (Proverbs 3:5-6) for your mental health as well as your physical and social (spiritual) health. Choose this day whom you will serve (Joshua 24:15).
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