Ridgetop SDA Church

From Stronger Together, a Resource for Ministry Spouses, Vol. 40, Issue Four 2023

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MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES affect a large portion of the population, including those in faith communities. To address this issue plaguing our society, we must seek ways to keep our mental health in a vibrant condition.

WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH?

Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make choices.1 Having good mental health is just as important as having a healthy body. However, the Bible goes even deeper. 3 John 1:2 says, "Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul."2 It is important to note that physical, mental, and spiritual health are interrelated.

A simple way of measuring emotional and mental well­ being is to imagine a straight line with a scale from negative on one end (depression) to positive on the other end (joy). The scale represents what people think and feel about their lives. They might base their assessment on the quality of their relationships, their positive emotions and resilience, the realization of their potential and fulfillment, blessings of any kind, their overall satisfaction in life, or even their sense of fulfillment in ministry. Combined, these things are considered global judgments on life satisfaction.

For most of the population, the spot we identify ourselves with on this scale is somewhere in the middle, indicating a balanced mindset. We might be propelled toward the negative end on bad days or lean toward joy on good days. However, those who have learned to trust God are generally skewed toward joy, with above-average points of global judgment. Those with troubled minds often find themselves leaning to the negative side, causing them to feel off-balance, depressed, and despairing. We need to find meaning and substance in life in order to thrive. When our mind keeps feeding on unfavorable circumstances, our body and spirit are also negatively affected.

We can stay calm and trust God.

Mental health challenges can affect a person at any age. It is reported that 10 percent of children and youth combined have a diagnosable mental health condition.3 However, it is believed that the number is much greater now due to many factors in recent years, including the pandemic. Nevertheless, the main factors are a family history of mental illness and life experiences of being abused, being rejected, or witnessing a traumatic event. Substance abuse is also a key factor causing mental issues.

Deteriorating mental health can generally be observed through changes in thinking, feeling, and behavior. People with emotional or mental issues might be very negative about life. They cry easily, worry a lot, feel fearful, and frequently develop anxiety. They may have sleepless nights or reduced appetite. They may start to isolate themselves and become less motivated by things they were previously passionate about. They may also fall back to immature behaviors.4

LINK WITH SPIRITUAL HEALTH

Mental health is related to spiritual health because a troubling thought is often brought on by an unforgiving spirit, hatred, grudges, resentment, bitterness, a doubtful attitude, and a wrongful spirit. According to Ellen White, mental health is "mental clearness, calm nerves, a quiet, peaceful spirit like Jesus."5 Mental problems, she said, were like a disease that develops as the mind succumbs to the devil's continued promptings of bad thought habits. Satan is putting his best effort into capturing our minds and enslaving us with negativity. The Bible reminds us in 1 John 4:1: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world." As the father of lies, Satan will do anything to destroy the peace of God's children and marginalize our joy in Christ. All efforts to restore and shield our mental health by ourselves are powerless, for only God's spirit can overturn evil thoughts and "purify the springs of life ...    changed from sin to holiness."6

Here are some suggestions for promoting good mental health at home:

• Build strong, loving, and caring relationships in the family.
• Be an example in staying positive and in developing a resilient spirit amid trials.
• Help each other develop good self-esteem. When our sense of self is healthy, emotional well-being is greatly enhanced and it is easier to resist negativity.
• Show genuine interest in each other. In this way, family members feel supported and valued.
• Teach children to deal with disappointments healthily. Life does not always sail on a smooth and calm sea; there are storms and waves to deal with. Children must learn to take them as parts of life and move on.
• Be attentive and respectful and listen to each other's feelings. Practice effective communication; listen without judging and without preconceived ideas.
• Create a safe and positive home environment. Safeguard children against media use. Parents themselves must limit their screen time and spend quality time with their families. Include outdoor activities. Be careful in discussing serious family issues in front of the children.
• Be a role model in taking good care of your mental health. Practice self-control in all aspects of life; this starts from conditioning or controlling the way we think. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
• Avoid forming and sharing polarized political ideas, racially discriminatory views, and prejudices.
• Discipline children and youth in a balanced manner. Ellen White said, "Excessive indulgence and undue severity are alike to be avoided. While vigilance and firmness are indispensable, so also are sympathy and tenderness. Parents, remember that you deal with children who are struggling with temptation, and that to them these evil promptings are as hard to resist as are those that assail persons of mature years. Children who really desire to do right may fail again and again, and as often need encouragement to energy and perseverance. Watch the working of these young minds with prayerful solicitude. Strengthen every good impulse; encourage every noble action."7
• In difficult situations, help children and youth solve problems.
• Make time with God a priority for the family. Promote the truth in the Bible, share God's promises in His written Word, and read the Spirit of Prophecy together.