Counting Casseroles - Examining the Christian Response to Mental/Emotional Health Struggles

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​Living within the Body of Christ and the consumption of casseroles seem to go together.  Many of us have benefitted from the delivery of casseroles (and other practical helps) when facing loss of a loved one or physical health. But when was the last time you heard of a meal being delivered to someone undergoing treatment for depression, addiction, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or some other type of mental/emotional health issue?  There’s a reason why mental illness is often called “the no casserole disease.”

I’m convinced that the absence of casseroles doesn't stem from a lack of caring.  Rather, it stems from the lack of awareness as many in the Body of Christ keep to themselves about mental/emotional problems out of embarrassment and shame.

In the years that I experienced the difficulty of panic attacks that impacted my life in many ways, I felt very alone outside of the support of a very few people in my inner circle of family and friends.   In some ways this was my own fault as I gave into the fear of being vulnerable with others.  In some ways, it made perfect sense based on the kind of talk that I often heard from people within the church regarding how Christians view mental and emotional problems.  

Let’s explore some of our assumptions and beliefs by comparing two common health problems - Diabetes (physical) and Depression (mental/emotional) and taking a look at ways in which we view these two problems differently.

Cultural Acceptance:
Diabetes is often viewed as commonplace - not abnormal given the fact that we are Christians living in a broken world. 

Depression is viewed as something that should be rare for Christians living in that same broken world.  

Treatment Methods:
The response to news of a diabetes diagnosis is most often, “Go see your doctor and be faithful in following the treatment protocols.”

The response to news of a depression diagnosis is “Go see your pastor and be skeptical about anyone who recommends treatment options involving psychological counseling or medication.”

Personal Responsibility & Accountability:
For the diabetic, we overlook, excuse and are hesitant to suggest accountability for personal behaviors that may contribute to the problem, such as overeating and sedentary living. 

​For the person with depression, we often feel compelled to suggest taking a personal spiritual inventory and encourage them to be intentional about dealing with possible contributing factors, such as an undisciplined thought life, bitterness, negativity or thoughts of doubt or unbelief.

This dichotomy of responses to the person with diabetes versus the person with depression may expose a hidden assumption that the physical, mental/emotional, and spiritual can be compartmentalized and are independent of each other.  This type of thinking leads us to act as if the root cause of physical health problems is primarily physical, while the root cause of mental/emotional health problems is primarily spiritual.   
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In this world, our existence is physical, mental/emotional, and spiritual.  These three aspects of our being are part of our existence everywhere we go.  In this life, they cannot be separated and each aspect has an impact on the others.  

​For example: 

• I have difficulty displaying the fruits of the Spirit when I am physically tired
• ​When I’m mentally agitated or emotionally upset, I feel like I don’t even know how to pray
• Acts of services are difficult and draining when I have compassion fatigue
• When I’m in physical pain, I can hardly think straight

Taking a whole person view of health helps us to challenge the unhealthy ease of acceptance of physical health problems and the unhealthy embarrassment and shame that often surrounds mental/emotional health problems.

The rise mental/emotional health struggles have been well documented during this pandemic period.  In fact, the coroner in my community has issued a dire warning about the upcoming fall and winter based on a 23% increase in suicide compared to last year. Consider the following action steps that will help us to demonstrate the love of Christ by better supporting ourselves, our brothers and sisters in Christ, and our employees struggling in the area of mental/emotional health.
​
As a child of God who is struggling right now:

• Call your physician for a physical check-up and general assessment of your health status and habits.
• Make contact with a trained counselor. mental health professional or mental/emotional health support organization such as Anthem of Hope (anthemofhope.org/hopeline) to discuss negative or anxious thoughts and emotions.
• Call a Christian friend or spiritual advisor and ask them to connect either personally or virtually to walk with you through this time for the benefit of both of you.
• Dial 911 or go directly to the nearest emergency room if you have any thoughts of harming yourself or someone else and share your fears and concerns. If you can’t get to an emergency room, contact the suicide crisis line (1-800-273-8255).  

As a member of the Body of Christ who knows someone who is struggling right now:

• Initiate social connection, whether personally or virtually
• Drop off a healthy meal and/or go outside together for a socially distanced walk.
• Pray for them and assist them in finding and accessing resources to help.

As a leader in a Christian organization with employees who may be struggling right now:

• Recognize that while your employees may also be fellow members of the Body of Christ, the employment relationship is transactional, conditional, and therefore associated with professional boundaries designed to consider the best interests of both parties.  
• Take an inventory of your organization’s employee well-being support services and communicate to employees the resources available to them. 
• Do a survey of employees and ask them about their perception of their work environment or culture.  Do they see an atmosphere of acceptance and support when employees struggle with mental/emotional health issues?  What would be most helpful for them in managing the stress of adaptations and uncertainty in this pandemic period?

Good Health for Good Works Challenge:  Look around in your world and identify someone who you think may be struggling with mental/emotional health issues right now - it may be you, someone close to you, or a co-worker.  Take one of the action steps listed above to demonstrate the love of Christ by supporting them in their struggle.  

If your Christian organization could use some assistance in examining and creating a work culture that is supportive of employee well-being, please contact me.

Sources:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-antidepressant-diet/201805/mental-illness-the-non-casserole-disease#:~:text=Those%20not%20bringing%20the%20real,myriad%20forms%20of%20mental%20disease
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6932a1.htm#:~:text=Overall%2C%2040.9%25%20of%205%2C470%20respondents,reported%20having%20started%20or%20increased    
https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/ct-nvs-dupage-suicides-st-0918-20200917-o4a6uoozebfpjnglxbmzbtx5cy-story.html