Extending Grace To Those With Mental Health Problems

Mental health problems can affect people from any nation, profession or faith.  One in five persons will experience a mental health problem in their lifetime.  Many of us are impacted by a mental illness.

An article recently published by Finder.com.au titled, “Mental Health Problems Plague Australia’s Entertainment Industry” revealed that a study conducted by Entertainment Assist and Victoria University found mental health problems are rife within the Australian entertainment industry.

The study comprised of interviewing thirty six industry professionals with an online survey of about three thousand workers from many areas of the entertainment industry.  Those interviewed came from all different types of entertainment related professions, on stage actors, singers, dancers, roadies, technicians and stage managers.

Statistics showed that these people had mental health problems rating six times higher than the general public with moderate to severe levels of anxiety rating at about ten times higher. They also found that there’s a huge lack of support for mental health problems such as depression, anxiety and suicide ideation that were experienced by members of the interviewed group. Chronic Sleep disorders and insomnia were also common.

These findings suggest demanding high pressure jobs can result in mental health problems for those in leadership roles, highlighting the importance of having adequate mental health care available for everyone in Australia.

Mental Health Within The Church

Christians often associate mental well being with their walk with God, prayer life and time spent in worship.   The origins of mental health problems can be a concern to some and can be seen as a lack of faith, a turning away from God or as a spiritual condition as a direct result of backsliding or sin that may require deliverance.

There are many Christians within the church that simply won’t talk about their mental illness. As a result many Christians are looking for help outside of the church to address their mental health problems.

Carlos Whittaker – Panic Attacks

Finding that prayer and bible study alone were inadequate to address his mental health problem, Carlos Whittaker, Evangelical Writer & Musician told The Guardian about his panic attacks.

“This has nothing to with whether I believe in Jesus,” He said,  “This does not have anything to do with whether or not I am reading my Bible or how hard I am praying. I can pray 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and I’m still going to have to take that little white pill every single day.”

Sometimes we have to live with our circumstances.  God heals but he also allowed Paul’s thorn on his side saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness”.   God used Paul mightily for spreading the gospel.

Prayer and Bible Study

Last year LIfeWay Church, Nashville Tennessee conducted a survey discovering that a third of Americans and at least half of Evangelicals, fundamentalists or Born Again Christians believe that prayer and bible study alone can heal mental illness.

Christians believe that God can heal, but sometimes we wait for healing or live with our condition for the rest of our lives for which medication may be required to be taken to alleviate pain or to make the condition better and life bearable.  This does not make us faithless or hypocrites which is the fear of some people.

As Christians we can learn about mental health enabling us to extend grace to those who with a mental illness can become socially excluded due to stigma.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9

God would want you to extend a grace to those with a mental health problem. It is by His grace that we have been saved and have become a new creation in Christ.

By Admin

Sources:

Finder.com.au – Mental health problems plague Australia’s entertainment industry

The Guardian – Evangelicals Increasingly Putting Faith In Medicine To Treat Mental Health Issues

LifeWay Research – Mental Health – Half of Evangelicals believe that Prayer And Bible Study Alone Can Heal Mental Illness

Blue Letter Bible

Where to Get Help in Australia

Talk to your doctor who can point you in the right direction.

Visit CCAA to search for a Christian counsellor near you.

Visit ACA to search for a counsellor near you.

Free 24/7 Counselling Services

Lifeline on 13 11 14

Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800

MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978

Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467

Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36

Headspace on 1800 650 890

Studying at aifc

Equip yourself with counselling skills for life at aifc.

For those who would like to enrol in aifc’s accredited Christian counselling courses we have two intakes per year for courses commencing around the following months:

• At The beginning of each year in February.
• Mid-Year courses commence in July.

Enrolments open approximately 3 months prior the courses commencing. Enquire now by filling out the form with your details to receive course information by email.

Introducing a Master of Counselling course commencing in 2018

Contact aifc Monday to Friday from 9am – 5pm with your enquiries on 6242 5111 or toll free on 1300 721 397