Mental Health: Let's Talk About It!

Since 1949, May has been observed as Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States. During this month, a coalition of organizations and mental health advocates work to end the stigma that surrounds mental health challenges and negatively impacts the millions of Americans who struggle with such conditions as depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.

What might we do during this month to end stigma about mental health challenges in our communities?

I believe that the church can be a place of support and love for those who struggle with mental health challenges. It's also the case that churches have at times themselves been places of stigma and silencing, which makes it all the more important for faith communities to stand up and speak out on this topic.

In order to do this, we have to be the kind of community where difficult conversations can happen, and where people can share experiences that might be difficult to speak about. It is also important that we become mindful of the way that we use language related to mental health, and the ways in which certain commonly used phrases actually contribute to the stigma faced by people for whom mental health challenges are a part of everyday life.

I was excited to learn, when I first began speaking to people at Bon Air Christian Church, that this congregation has identified mental health and wholeness as a ministry focus. I look forward to leaning into that focus this month and in the months to come. This is a topic I'm passionate about for many reasons, from my own family history and personal experiences with mental health challenges as well as from witnessing how powerful it can be when congregations intentionally create space for difficult conversations.

If this is a conversation in which you would like to be involved, I hope you will let me know. So, this May, let's talk about it!

Grace + Peace,

David

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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