Leaders Learning How To Bridge The Gap Between 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 healthy choices. Don't just accept not feeling your best. Leaders may struggle to disclose their traumas for a variety of reasons. One common reason is that they may feel pressure to maintain a certain image or reputation, and they worry that disclosing their struggles could make them appear weak or vulnerable in the eyes of their followers. They may also fear that sharing their experiences could negatively impact their career or their relationships with others.

However, when leaders do not disclose their traumas or mental health challenges, it can have negative consequences for both themselves and their followers. If leaders do not seek help or support for their mental health, they may experience burnout, stress, and other negative outcomes that can impact their ability to lead effectively. In some cases, leaders may turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as substance abuse or self-harm, to deal with their emotional pain.

Good state of mind isn’t just the absence of mental health problems. Being mentally healthy means you’re able to cope with the normal ups and downs of life. You can recover from setbacks and build on your strengths. Everyone has times when they feel down or anxious, but with good mental health, you have the resilience to keep going even when things are tough.

We need not be afraid to ask how our faith interacts with our mental health and what role it may play in the midst of mental illness, and we can do so without feeling like a spiritual failure when we struggle. We pray for deliverance and healing, yet we also go to therapy and take medication with the expectation that they may be God's means of answering our prayers. 

1. Meditation: This is a powerful mindfulness tool that can help to calm the mind and reduce stress and anxiety. Meditation involves focusing the mind on a specific object, such as the breath or a mantra, and practicing non-judgmental awareness of thoughts and feelings.
2. Mindful breathing: This involves taking slow, deep breaths and focusing your attention on the sensation of the breath moving in and out of your body. This can help to reduce stress and increase relaxation.
3. Body scan: This is a technique in which you systematically focus your attention on different parts of your body, noticing any sensations or feelings that arise. This can help to increase body awareness and reduce tension.
4. Mindful walking: This involves walking slowly and intentionally, focusing your attention on the sensations in your feet and legs as they move, as well as the sights, sounds, and smells around you.
5. Gratitude practice: This involves intentionally focusing on the things you are grateful for, which can help to shift your perspective and reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.
6. Mindful journaling: This involves taking time to reflect on your thoughts and feelings, and writing them down in a non-judgmental way. This can help to increase self-awareness and reduce rumination.

The apostle Paul speaks of a thorn in his side that he pleaded with God three times to remove 

(2 Cor. 12:7–10). Biblical scholars aren’t sure exactly what Paul’s thorn was, but I can tell you mine: bipolar disorder. I was diagnosed as an adolescent and have pleaded with God more than thrice to remove this from me.

Mental illness is probably more common than you know. Truth be shared, we all struggle with something silently as we lead. According to National Institute of Mental Health, 1 in 5 American adults lives with a mental illness. The World Health Organization says 1 in 4 people worldwide will experience mental-health issues.

We often have questions but are also fearful of asking them. If you have any mental health questions. Please leave them here. If you need a confidential consultation, please connect with us via our website.