Resources for Supporting Your Mental Health this Mental Health Month
“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
May is Mental Health Month, established in 1949 to promote mental wellness. As a trained social worker, I’ve experienced both being the counselor and receiving therapy, and I’m grateful beyond measure for both of my current therapists. Seeking support for mental health challenges can feel overwhelming, perhaps even shameful to some. However, there is a wide variety of support choices available, and the right fit for everyone’s mental wellness may look different.
Seeking Support
If you feel you’re struggling with your mental health, do not do so alone. Seek support immediately by talking to friends or family, asking your primary care provider for a depression or anxiety screening, considering a referral for therapy, and reviewing options for potential medications if needed. If none of those are available and you are experiencing a crisis, call the National Hotline for Mental Health Crises and Suicide Prevention by dialing or texting 988, available 24/7.
If you are interested in learning to spot signs of mental health challenges in your friends and loved ones, consider completing a Mental Health First Aid course and certification so that you are prepared to support them effectively.
Getting Professional Help
Seeking professional help may seem overwhelming simply due to the complexity of navigating the health and mental health care system. If you’re thinking about entering into a professional relationship with a therapist, counselor, or social worker:
Seek one that deeply respects, or even shares, your personal values. Consider making a list of the values that are most important to you and reading potential therapists’ bios or reviewing the mission statements of their practices, if available.
Seek one that can address your primary reasons for seeking therapy (for example, marital counseling or grief). Just like other specialists, not all therapists can effectively address all challenges.
Consider whether insurance coverage is important or necessary. If so, determine which therapists accept your insurance and the costs for assessments or ongoing appointments.
Accept that the first therapist you find may not be a great fit. I once heard a friend refer to finding a therapist like dating–sometimes it’s a great fit for you, and sometimes it’s not. You may have to research and schedule appointments with several before finding one that you feel comfortable with and that seems effective at addressing your concerns.
If you’re not sure where to start looking for therapists, consider tools like the Psychologist Locator, your insurance’s in-network list of providers, asking for a referral from your primary care physician, asking those you trust for recommendations, or even simply Googling therapists in your area that address your primary concerns as a starting point.
Prayer and Church Resources
Do not discount the power of prayer and support from your church community! These include:
Asking to be included on the prayer intentions list
Asking for spiritual direction
Joining church-led groups for those facing the same challenges (for example, substance use or grief)
Asking for a counseling referral or recommendations (some churches may also have professional clinicians or social workers on staff)
Finally, consider praying to St. Dymphna, patron saint of mental health, depression, anxiety, and domestic abuse. After a difficult life which included abuse and, finally, death at the hands of her father, St. Dymphna is said to have cured many mental health challenges of pilgrims to her burial site in Geel, Belgium. Medals featuring St. Dymphna are easy to find (on a particularly challenging day recently, I carried one around in my pocket). Fittingly, her feast day is this month on May 15.
St. Dymphna, pray for us.
Sarah Battersby has a Bachelor's in English and a Master's in Social Work and has spent most of her career working with students and student-serving organizations. She currently works for the small consulting firm she co-owns. She loves reading, baking and discovering new things with her daughter. She lives in North Carolina with her family.