Jan 14th, 2021: Don't Be Indifferent Toward People Mental Health
As Covid-19 continues to spread globally, more and more people have to live in isolation. That has contributed to the significant number of people who have suffered through various conditions of mental health. Some people have shared with me about their inadequacy in helping their kids, spouses, and friends who struggle with mental health issues.
Yes, we need to depend on professional people to provide proper care for people with mental health. However, that doesn't mean there is nothing we can do to help. Bell Canada proposes five ideas in its campaign to fight against mental health. Let us look at that and then look at Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman in John Gospel. (John 4: 1-26)
Language Matters: we can appear to be insensitive and unloving toward people who suffer from mental health if we are not careful in our language. Do not use languages that create stigma. Jesus had to overcome that when the Samaritan woman thought he was just a Jew who wanted to look down on her as a Samaritan.
Educate ourselves: we should not allow ourselves to be ignorant when it comes to mental health. There is plenty of information we can have access to now online. We need to seek understanding and knowledge to understand the shame that some of these folks have to encounter daily. Jesus understood the personal situation of the Samaritan woman. A woman with five failed marriages. She was not married to the man she lived with at that moment (that was a shame and severe rejection at that time).
Be kind: kindness is the medicine for those who deal with mental illness because they cannot even be kind to themselves. Some have to entertain a lot of negative voices from within. Kindness brings about healing and hope. It helps these folks to know that they are not alone in their pain. Jesus was very kind to the Samaritan woman. There was not a word of judgment and condemnation. He affirmed her when she told the truth. He was clear in telling her who he is. He gave her hope.
Listen and ask: asking then listening is the lost art in our culture. Our attention span is limited, and we cannot listen long enough to understand someone with mental health struggles. We need to learn how to be sincere in asking and to be attentive in listening. When we review the interaction Jesus had with the Samaritan woman, we realized that he asked her questions. He asked her for something to drink. He asked her to go and tell her husband.
Talk about it: it should not be taboo to talk about depression, suicide, and other mental health struggles. When we talk about it openly, we grant people, who are dealing with their mental health conditions, the freedom to share their fears and pains. Talking about mental health is a critical step in having some form of therapy to overcome it. Jesus spent time with the Samaritan woman because he knew she just wanted to be alone. She had experienced rejection, judgment, and damages from others.
Reach out to someone you know who has been suffering from mental health. More people are losing their lives and livelihoods because of it.
