In the U.S. the first week of October is Mental Illness Awareness Week, established in 1990 due to the increase of mental illness. Tuesday of that week is the National Day of Prayer for Mental Illness Awareness Recovery and Understanding.
So I ask:
How much do you understand about mental illness?
How much is physiological? (i.e., chemical imbalance)
How much is psychological? (i.e., faulty belief system)
How much is emotional? (i.e., reaction to trauma, loss, abuse, etc.)
How much is sociological? (i.e., conditioning, environmental)
How much is spiritual? (i.e., result of a hardened heart, sin, or spiritual warfare)
I’m not sure that we can always know the answers to those questions which supports the need to minister to the whole person. God made us with a body, mind, will, emotions, and a spirit and He made us a relational being. All these areas weave together and can affect each other.
If you don’t fully understand mental health issues and don’t know how to come along side of people with mental illness, just treat them as whole people:
Physiological: Encourage them to get regular physical check-ups, to eat well, exercise, and get enough sleep.
Psychological: Help them work through faulty beliefs.
Emotional: Comfort, support, and encourage.
Sociological: Point the person to the power of God to break cycles.
Spiritual: Pray for them. Engage in a discipleship process. Share God’s Word with them.
Just as you might not fully understand a person’s physical health issues, so you might not be able to get a good grip on mental health issues. That doesn’t mean you avoid them. You still love them, accept them, and come along side as you are able. You treat them as whole people made in the image of God and loved by Him. You view them with value as you would any other human being.
Thanks for being on board with ministering to the whole person!