Headstart - Cutting through the stigma on Mental Health

Natalie is a dancer and pilates instructor in Melbourne who has recently joined the City Bible Forum team part-time. She brings fresh diversity to the team, a wealth of different gifts and a great love for connecting with people. We’re not sure if dance or pilates is one of our evangelistic strategies, but there are definitely creative opportunities there! She shares with us her reflections of our next instalment of Headstart Term 4’s RAW: UNMUTE - Cutting through the stigma.

This week at Headstart, we peeled off the layers and got to the core of the stigma on Mental Health. This was by no means replacing medical advice or generalising what mental health looks like. Instead, it was opening up a conversation on how we can better understand, empathise and care for one another.

John and Maddy are young workers from Sydney who boldly shared their personal experiences of dealing with mental health issues and reflected upon how it affects their professional, social and spiritual lives. John suffers from clinical depression and Maddy suffers from anxiety.

What is the Stigma?

“Being seen as weak. You can’t quantify it, so it’s less obvious compared to ‘physical’ health”

“Fear of being treated differently by the people you share with”

“It’s personal, so don’t bring it up at work”

“Just snap out of it”

“You must be high maintenance”

“Scared people will think you can’t handle the pressure”

“If you trust God you shouldn’t be anxious or sad”

We discussed what challenges we faced as young workers when talking about mental health and the stigma around it. On a personal level, there’s a tension between the fear of how others perceive us if we’re exposed, versus the frustration of feeling like we should have it together. In a competitive workplace environment, putting on a brave face and avoiding vulnerability to appear competent contributed to the reluctance to speak up about how we’re really going.

This was also prevalent on a community level, including our church communities. We fake a smile to cover up the dread of feeling like a burden to others or being sidelined because we fall short of an ‘ideal Jesus candidate’.

So how do you cut through the stigma?

John shared that we need to be open and start the conversation. He keeps it casual to normalise conversations about mental health. Bringing it up at an appropriate time and with people you trust will better the experience for those involved. Know that it is okay to be someone who struggles with depression and that you can serve Jesus just as faithfully as others.

Maddy had previously been ashamed of talking about her anxiety. However, opening up helped her realise she wasn’t alone in her struggles. If we see mental illness as just an illness, and treat it as seriously as a physical health illness, we can navigate it through a different lens. Mental illness does not define us.

How do you manage your mental health?

John and Maddy shared a couple of really helpful insights from their experiences with us:

1. Reach out for help – health professionals and your community. If you think you are struggling with mental health or need to address an issue, talk to your GP and approach professional help to work through what you’re experiencing. Other practical ways may include exercise, implementing routines and learning techniques to help articulate your feelings.
2. Check in with Christ and refer back to scriptures. Cry, lament, but don’t dwell. Instead pour out to God in prayer, meditate on His word and rest in His truths.
3. Recognise that emotions are a good gift from God. God created us to be emotive beings. Even our unpleasant emotions point us back to a loving God.

4. Identify opportunities to grow in maturity and love. God has the power to heal you, but for whatever reason, this is your earthly battle. Know that He’s going to be there with you and walk with you through your suffering.

How can I support those struggling?

The key thing that stood out was "be active listeners, not fixers".

There is a place for Scripture, but remember that the person opening up to you is unlikely to be looking for a sermon. They chose to be vulnerable with you because they trust you, so actively listen to them.

What if you can’t do all the heavy lifting? While Christ asks us to ‘bear one another’s burdens’, we are not Jesus. We are made to be in relationship and community. So establishing a support network of mature Christians will be beneficial to those involved. But remember to ask for permission.

Grace Huang wrapped up the night by sharing a Bible reflection from 1 Corinthians 12:14-26. This passage reminds us that all members belong to a body of Christ. Each part is precious, and those that seem weak are actually indispensable. Lastly, what happens to one of us affects all of us. So let’s support one another in God’s love.

“If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together.” - 1 Corinthians 12:26

Onions have layers, ogres have layers, and it’s okay if you have layers too.