Today is World Mental Health day

Human beings are a wonder - so adaptable and resilient, yet so intricately complex and fragile.

It's this combination that makes each person unique- a one off, never to be repeated miracle.

I don't think we see each other that way often enough. I worry, that in today's busy, hectic rush, we don't see each other at all.

Today is World Mental Health Day, and I hope we will use this day to see each other, to listen and learn.

A lot of what I get to do in my work is listen to people. One thing that resonates is the comment from so many sufferers of mental illness that they feel invisible and silenced. "How do I begin to explain my mental illness? The hardest bit is telling others – folk can see a broken leg but they can’t see inside your head." 

One in four adults in the UK suffers from a diagnosable mental health condition in any given year.

I believe we have to work to end the stigma around mental illness.  The burden which must be carried by those affected by mental health problems, and those who care for them, is not only heavy, but can be life- long.

How we, as church, as friends and family, support each other is at the heart of a culture of positive relationships that we seek to foster.

Our churches should surely be places where everybody can be sure of having someone to listen, somebody who cares and values each and every man, woman and child. The presence of the church as a community of people who care and who can simply ‘be there’ can be very important in times of need.

At parish level, individual and congregational prayer is powerful.  Support from pastoral care teams can provide invaluable ministry, promoting self esteem and a sense that a person’s and family’s journey and burden are shared.

The Church of Scotland’s General Assembly received a report on mental health in 2011. 

You can explore these issues further by using this Bible Study.

Out of solitary places

Mental health and suicide were two of the issues which the Church and Society Council raised at the General Assembly earlier this year.

Two news stories last week have caught my attention and brought be back to look again at the reflections in our reports.

The first is the news of the publication in English of Robert Enke's biography.
Enke was a successful German club goalkeeper, a married father. He suffered from depression and killed himself in 2009. Sadly this is not an unknown story, but Enke's fame, success and celebrity status has meant that a spotlight has been thrown on suicide, and what might be done to support people in desperate need of help.

Suicide is the number one cause of death in young men in Scotland. Our report recommended the play 'Dare 2 Hope' from Cutting Edge Theatre Productions, designed for schools, which helps young people to explore some of these issues.

The second news story was about the increased use of anti depressant drugs as a treatment for mental health issues in Scotland.
This just goes to show that mental health problems remain an important and growing issue of concern. Our report tried to shed some light on this and suggested that local congregations agree a policy or charter for how they approach the issue.

When thinking about mental health issues I often recall the Bible story of Jesus healing the man known as Legion, a man cast out of normal society and tormented by his inner demons (Mark 5: 1-9). Healing is not always an easy process, but by understanding why people become ill and accepting them in society rather than ostracising them is an important way we can demonstrate love and compassion.