Christianity and mental health. A discussion with Nass
Watch the full vlog interview with our content manager, Nass, as we discuss her experiences with being a young christian, who's suffered from anxiety and mood swings and how her faith helps her to overcome.
6 signs someone you are close to is suffering mentally
According to the The NHS Information Centre, approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. In the era of easy accessibility, the pressure to have it all together is higher than ever. Especially for women! We're constantly bombarded with images of what we "should" look like, it's not shocking to see such a high statistic when it comes to mental health.
If you suspect that someone you love might be suffering with mental health issues, here are a few signs that may help confirm it:
1. Personality changes - The happy person you once knew has left the building. You notice that the person is down and out a lot. They're pessimistic and negative. It's harder to be around them because their moods wings/bad moods suck the energy right out of you and others.
2. Avoiding social scenerios - You haven't really been seeing them around a lot. They cancel on most plans or don't even make any plans with you anymore. They isolate themselves and try to avoid contact.
3. Neglecting interest or hobbies - They've stopped turning up to their hobbies and interests. Nothing really seems to make them happy anymore.
4. Overeating/under eating - You notice a sudden weight loss or weight gain. They're either skipping meals and barely eating, or eating the pain away.
5. Disturbed sleep - You may be close enough to notice or know that they're not sleeping much, or struggling to keep a 'normal' sleep schedule.
6. Unproductive - Their grades or concentration has dropped. They struggle to keep up with their home or social lives. Everything seems like a drag.
What to do if someone close to you is suffering mentally
If you believe someone you know may be suffering from mental health issues. You can:
1. Talk to the person - give them the chance to talk it out. Sometimes professional help is needed, but other times just talking can also help.
2. Pray for them/ with them - Believe in the power of prayer. The bible says "where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I with them" Mat 18:20.
3. Encourage them to seek help - It's difficult to help someone suffering with a mental battle alone. Try to get the person to see a pastor, psychiatrist or therapist to address the issue.
Have you or are you suffering with mental health problems? Drop us an email or fill out our contact form and we'd be happy to help you in any way we can, including prayer!
