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Mental health and the power of the church community
Church in the Community - Media Release in the Herald: 22 May 2023
The purpose of this article is to shed light on mental health as a general issue as well as the human experience of it.
I have come to find that people do not heal unless they are willing to admit there is a problem and seek help. Those who seek help and acknowledge their vulnerability are brave and courageous.
As a psychologist, I get to sit with people of all walks of life and have a unique and rare glimpse into the vulnerable internal worlds of individuals, couples, and families and groups.
With this opportunity, I find myself being grateful to be able to help, yet perplexed by the kinds of challenges people are struggling with.
During my masters training, my colleagues and I would say we often seem to get the clients we ourselves need in order to overcome certain challenges.
We would track the themes of the issues we each worked with in our therapy processes.
As I write this article, I find myself tracking through a few themes that have come up recently in my practice.
My training involved a lot of post structural deconstructing of the meaning of words. We learned not to take words at face value or assume we know what someone is saying simply because they use familiar language.
We had to learn to listen and ask questions to uncover what people really mean when they use these familiar words.
Examples of some familiar words I often hear are depression, anxiety, or narcissism.
When someone says something like “I think I am depressed” or “he/she is a narcissist”, I start by questioning what this really means for the individual.
This investigation has two layers, to uncover the person’s unique experience which they may call “depression” as well as seeing if their experience fits the actual criteria in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM 5-TR) used for diagnosing these conditions.
I must then manage two ethical responsibilities: to hear and understand unique and personalised experience as well as accurately identify diagnosable criteria.
Understanding mental health
Many people use terms like “depression” and “narcissism” loosely and label themselves and others in a harsh and damaging way.
My understanding of mental health is similar to those kinds of diagnosable conditions such as cancer or heart disease which have symptoms and treatment processes.
Many studies have provided evidence that medication and psychotherapy are effective when used together.
Additionally, people who are in healthy communities and have meaningful and secure relationships seem to have a better chance at recovery and healing.
Some studies on trauma recovery have noted that people who have experienced trauma are less likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder if they have secure and healthy relationships in their lives.
This is where the church offers such value to the lives of so many.
A church community should offer the opportunity to develop healthy, meaningful, purposeful relationships, which are significant for healing mental health conditions.
Vulnerability, a catalyst for healing
Brene’ Brown, an American social worker, is renowned for her insightful research on vulnerability.
She has found that without vulnerability it is difficult to truly heal and change. In her words “vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.”
This is perhaps what makes psychotherapy effective. It is a safe place for vulnerability with the added meaningful relational exchange.
I can imagine this is also what makes the church a place for healthy change, safety for vulnerability and meaningful relational exchange.
In 2 Corinthians 12 Paul asks God to remove the thorn from his flesh, and God answers him with these words: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
I wonder if we see mental health issues as a possible thorn and embrace Gods words to Paul, trusting that as we humbly address our weaknesses Gods strength is made perfect in our weakness.
In conclusion, the process of transformation and change is possible, and God has provided all we need to make this possible. 2 Corinthians 5 mentions that if anyone is in Christ, he or she is a new creation.
The old has passed away.
Therefore, there is hope for change and transformation for any person needing it.
Looking at the transformation process of the butterfly we get the idea that transformation can be a process.
Nelson Mandela’s famous quote says, “it seems impossible until it’s done.”
Let us as the church take this approach when dealing with mental health.
Allowing for vulnerability and seeking help is essential for healing.
Community has the power to provide safety for such vulnerability and bravery.
Church community and meaningful relationships are therefore essential in combating mental health conditions.
Jade Brown is a counselling psychologist who completed her master’s degree at the University of Fort Hare in 2015. She is a Christian and finds great joy journeying with people to overcome personal and systemic challenges to live more authentic and fulfilling lives. She is currently working in private practice in Gqeberha.
Back to News IndexI have come to find that people do not heal unless they are willing to admit there is a problem and seek help. Those who seek help and acknowledge their vulnerability are brave and courageous.
As a psychologist, I get to sit with people of all walks of life and have a unique and rare glimpse into the vulnerable internal worlds of individuals, couples, and families and groups.
With this opportunity, I find myself being grateful to be able to help, yet perplexed by the kinds of challenges people are struggling with.
During my masters training, my colleagues and I would say we often seem to get the clients we ourselves need in order to overcome certain challenges.
We would track the themes of the issues we each worked with in our therapy processes.
As I write this article, I find myself tracking through a few themes that have come up recently in my practice.
My training involved a lot of post structural deconstructing of the meaning of words. We learned not to take words at face value or assume we know what someone is saying simply because they use familiar language.
We had to learn to listen and ask questions to uncover what people really mean when they use these familiar words.
Examples of some familiar words I often hear are depression, anxiety, or narcissism.
When someone says something like “I think I am depressed” or “he/she is a narcissist”, I start by questioning what this really means for the individual.
This investigation has two layers, to uncover the person’s unique experience which they may call “depression” as well as seeing if their experience fits the actual criteria in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM 5-TR) used for diagnosing these conditions.
I must then manage two ethical responsibilities: to hear and understand unique and personalised experience as well as accurately identify diagnosable criteria.
Understanding mental health
Many people use terms like “depression” and “narcissism” loosely and label themselves and others in a harsh and damaging way.
My understanding of mental health is similar to those kinds of diagnosable conditions such as cancer or heart disease which have symptoms and treatment processes.
Many studies have provided evidence that medication and psychotherapy are effective when used together.
Additionally, people who are in healthy communities and have meaningful and secure relationships seem to have a better chance at recovery and healing.
Some studies on trauma recovery have noted that people who have experienced trauma are less likely to develop post-traumatic stress disorder if they have secure and healthy relationships in their lives.
This is where the church offers such value to the lives of so many.
A church community should offer the opportunity to develop healthy, meaningful, purposeful relationships, which are significant for healing mental health conditions.
Vulnerability, a catalyst for healing
Brene’ Brown, an American social worker, is renowned for her insightful research on vulnerability.
She has found that without vulnerability it is difficult to truly heal and change. In her words “vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change.”
This is perhaps what makes psychotherapy effective. It is a safe place for vulnerability with the added meaningful relational exchange.
I can imagine this is also what makes the church a place for healthy change, safety for vulnerability and meaningful relational exchange.
In 2 Corinthians 12 Paul asks God to remove the thorn from his flesh, and God answers him with these words: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
I wonder if we see mental health issues as a possible thorn and embrace Gods words to Paul, trusting that as we humbly address our weaknesses Gods strength is made perfect in our weakness.
In conclusion, the process of transformation and change is possible, and God has provided all we need to make this possible. 2 Corinthians 5 mentions that if anyone is in Christ, he or she is a new creation.
The old has passed away.
Therefore, there is hope for change and transformation for any person needing it.
Looking at the transformation process of the butterfly we get the idea that transformation can be a process.
Nelson Mandela’s famous quote says, “it seems impossible until it’s done.”
Let us as the church take this approach when dealing with mental health.
Allowing for vulnerability and seeking help is essential for healing.
Community has the power to provide safety for such vulnerability and bravery.
Church community and meaningful relationships are therefore essential in combating mental health conditions.
Jade Brown is a counselling psychologist who completed her master’s degree at the University of Fort Hare in 2015. She is a Christian and finds great joy journeying with people to overcome personal and systemic challenges to live more authentic and fulfilling lives. She is currently working in private practice in Gqeberha.
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