Focus on Mental Wellbeing
"The Church and Mental Wellbeing at this time", an article by JANE DUNN, a member of the Well Baptist Church, Sheffield, who is a British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Senior Accredited Counsellor and an Association of Christian Counsellors (ACC) Accredited Counsellor.
How are you?” “I’m fine.”
A common answer to a common question which gives nothing away about how someone is. How are they really?
Mental health issues may have surfaced for people during lockdown. Currently we have the “rule of 6” but we do not know what the coming months will bring. For some, earlier in the year, loneliness has been a real issue with a lack of stimulation and face-to-face contact with all the body language that goes with that.
What helps? I’ll use the mnemonic CALM with the addition of an O to explain.
C - connection with others. This is so important! God is Trinity and there is connection between God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In the same way we, as his creation, need connection both with Him and with others. (Genesis 1v18).
The security of knowing our connection with God is so important during such uncertain times. When people struggle with being lonely it is important that we are able to convey that we can be at peace with being alone, knowing that God is with us wherever we are and whatever we are doing. His Holy Spirit is with us, giving peace. Peace can be gained through joining a church gathering but these are limited in size and some people in the higher risk groups are not keen to meet in this way.
The smaller group gathering can give a greater depth of connection and intimacy and it has been wonderful to have media through which to do this, to share, study the Bible and pray too. But the value of a phone call, card, message or a WhatsApp photo are all great too, showing that the person has been thought of and that you are reaching out to connect with them.
I have heard of one church in Yorkshire buying computer tablets and sending someone round outside the receiver’s house to help them in using it through the glass window – it is a time to be creative!
Sometimes if the person concerned has had previous mental health issues it may mean it is important to speak to a doctor or a counsellor - and I do encourage people to do that because it really can make a difference. (see resources below)
A – be active. Twenty minutes’ walk a day (as a minimum) before 1pm (in order to get vitamin D too) can really uplift your spirits. Yorkshire is a beautiful part of the country to enjoy! Online exercise classes, dance or Pilates lessons, etc have been enjoyed by many - so keep up the great work! We are called to care for our bodies as a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6 v 9,10). If people are physically unable to get out then armchair exercises are available online too, and sitting by a window or in the garden can lift spirits as well.
L – learn something new. There is lots we can listen to in order to grow spiritually and to engage in a deeper way with God. In addition, learning something new stimulates the brain and gives a sense of achievement. Learning a language or listening to worship music are great options too. But it might be baking something new, learning something that you want to share with your children, learning a new woodworking skill or whatever – the world is your oyster! There are online creative courses, tours of museums and the list goes on…
M – be mindful. It is also about breathing in, in a shallow way and breathing out in a longer way; this helps the body to physically relax. Imagine breathing in the Holy Spirit and then breathing it out in silent prayer, giving your anxieties to God (1 Peter 5 v 7). And when thoughts whirl around in your head it is about acknowledging them but letting them go as well. Another way of letting thoughts go is by journaling them. Putting them on paper can help to rationalise them and let them go.
Mindfulness may not be suitable for all if there have been difficult childhood issues so if someone is not interested or finding it helpful, it is best to let that idea go. For those not able to get outside there are many nature programmes that can be watched to “take them out for a walk” in effect instead.
As a Christian it can be simply enjoying God’s creation through using all of our senses – enjoying and focusing on what can be seen outside, for example, a leaf in all of its intricate detail. Touching these things grounds us in the present moment so that there isn’t the worry about the past or the future, smelling the scent of beautiful flowers or coffee or freshly-cut grass, and thinking about what we can hear around us - the sound of a river, the birds singing, or children coming out of school. Above all it’s about slowing oneself down to really take it all in and absorb it. And perhaps asking God, the Creator, to speak through His creation.
Meditation is a helpful Christian approach as well. Try reflecting on a piece of Scripture - focussing on one word of the verse at a time and repeating the verse - as well as memorising Scriptures such as Psalm 23, Psalm 121, and Philippians 4 v 6-7.
O – others. This relates to doing something for someone else or loving our neighbours as ourselves. It may be indirectly, through donating goods to a charity shop, or through baking a cake for a neighbour, giving a financial gift to someone you recognise might be needing extra help (for example, via a foodbank, helping a local asylum seeker or someone who has lost their job) or sending a message/card to someone to let them know you are thinking of them and praying for them especially on that day. You could send a Bible verse to encourage them. This can help to take our minds off our own situations and consider others, which is what God wants.
Maybe faith can be shared with a neighbour and then a new plan of discipleship can be started?
When it comes to loss and grief this has been an especially challenging time. The whole of the lockdown process has meant multiple losses, in addition to bereavements. Encourage people to be kind to themselves and to acknowledge that grief is a process to be worked through and that it is okay that it takes time. If we are to really process grief it cannot be fast forwarded through - the different emotions need to be worked through. Perhaps that is something to explore another time…
Resources:
Association of Christian Counsellors www.acc-uk.org/ . Currently ACC are also provided some free counselling for those in the NHS and Carers. See website for details.
British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists https://www.bacp.co.uk (some Christians advertise through this site as well. They will possibly mention working in the spiritual dimension.)
NHS: GPs also refer for counselling and can refer under-18s to appropriate counselling too.
If you would like further information, please email me on janed@live.co.uk or ring me on 07910 342194 - Jane.
