When we desire to minister to someone who struggles with mental illness, it is natural to avoid these interactions out of a fear of saying the wrong thing or accidentally hurting rather than helping. Or maybe as a bishop or Relief Society leader we aim to encourage an individual but end up causing more harm than good.
Leading Saints, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead, recognizes that most lay leaders desire a deeper understanding of the complexities of mental illness and how to help individuals. By gathering content from experts or those who experience mental illness, we can help Latter-day Saints (especially lay leaders) sit with mentally ill individuals and offer helpful encouragement. We can also aid in providing a starting point to finding healing from professional therapy and from the Savior Jesus Christ.
In an effort to bring more thoughtful dialogue to the topic of mental health in the Latter-day Saint context, the team over at Leading Saints has put together the Mentally Healthy Saints Virtual Summit. We have interviewed 20+ individuals with expertise or real-life experience related to so many mental health topics, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and even scrupulosity (religious OCD). We will discuss all these topics as they relate to the Latter-day Saint faith experience and how we can all come together to better minister to those who struggle with mental health.
This is a free conference that anyone in the world can view. For more details on what topics will be covered and to register for free visit leadingsaints.org/mentalhealth.
Through the power of story, nationally recognized journalist Jane Clayson Johnson shines a light on the desperate, dark, and lonely reality faced by those who struggle with clinical depression. At once hopeful and heart-wrenching, Silent Souls Weeping examines the stigma and isolation associated with depression, as well as the dangers of perfectionistic tendencies and suicidal ideation. Available now at Deseret Book stores and deseretbook.com.