RELIGION AND MENTAL HEALTH
A couple of months ago, we lost this amazing young man. Being a bit new to this group, I hadn't interacted with him one on one only through group dialogue kind of a thing. Learning of his demise and what caused it was heartbreaking for me. He was such a young and vibrant individual full of life and energy to share with the world. I got a lot of questions in my head just like everyone else. outsiders might even have hard questions probably the community’s perception of perfect life within such spiritual vicinity is the least we can expect from it.
Most of the time when we lose someone, especially through suicide we start looking at any behavioral change. we can actually pinpoint some change but then we never ask or maybe got concerned but it’s done. Mental illness doesn’t show the normal symptoms we are used to. It’s more of the behavioral change which eventually resembles some of the physical illness symptoms. Mental illness takes turns and turns until the individual is unable to control or think through.
From this experience, I took time to internalize what is the point we are missing in addressing mental health. why are we having a high number of youths being the victims of mental illness? Where have we failed as a society in supporting the youths specifically? This matters it’s not only the government’s or the non-governmental organizations’ responsibility. It’s our key responsibility as well. The pressure of life and adverse childhood experience is the contributors to this effect. Most people are walking around with traumas that have been haunting them for life. Some individuals have tried their best to maintain or calm their triggers from exploding.
It's time to address mental illness as it is. we are human, level of impact of life experiences hit us differently. Just like some are deeply connected spiritually while others are along that path, so is mental matter. Some just keep walking with pain and trauma that they don’t know how to go about while others can maintain it calmly as long they are not being triggered. Due to all these experiences, our physical health is ruined. We seek medical attention for headaches, stomach upset and all that but the root cause is not being addressed. We just relieve the pain.
As from that painful experience, matters are being done quite differently. As we sat and have our weekly conversation, being truthful about our mental state has become an aspect that helps us to check on one another. A football match was conducted in his memory and probably view humans in a more alarming way. Being tasked with the responsibility of checking on one individual holistically is how we start because just as we are prompt to temptation so is mental no illness. No individual is exceptional!
we need to understand that individuals that are faced with illness, most of the time actually don't have a sense of the available options and solutions unless being guided by professionals. At that moment, from a religious point of view, imposing spiritual matters might not work. Addressing the issue from a mental perspective will aid to revive their sense of life thus it will be easier to connect with spiritual or religious beliefs.
Moreover, probably a question we need to be honest with each other, most religious individuals do their main religious duty on one day. What happened to the rest of the six days? how do you balance the triggers that hit you in your house, workplace, or on the bus?
Ideally, from our professional field, how can we support our religious center to enhance matters of mental health? How can ensure that we impact life holistically (spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically)? Am choosing a religious place for a start. Most individuals convey there for support of hope when they are still aware of the need they seek. As we work to curb the challenges with we are experiencing with mental illness, it’s a practice that can be a one-stop shop for holistic wellness, I see this as a start to mental illness recovery.
Written by: Muthoni Kamau
Published on 7th October, 2022
Most of the time when we lose someone, especially through suicide we start looking at any behavioral change. we can actually pinpoint some change but then we never ask or maybe got concerned but it’s done. Mental illness doesn’t show the normal symptoms we are used to. It’s more of the behavioral change which eventually resembles some of the physical illness symptoms. Mental illness takes turns and turns until the individual is unable to control or think through.
From this experience, I took time to internalize what is the point we are missing in addressing mental health. why are we having a high number of youths being the victims of mental illness? Where have we failed as a society in supporting the youths specifically? This matters it’s not only the government’s or the non-governmental organizations’ responsibility. It’s our key responsibility as well. The pressure of life and adverse childhood experience is the contributors to this effect. Most people are walking around with traumas that have been haunting them for life. Some individuals have tried their best to maintain or calm their triggers from exploding.
It's time to address mental illness as it is. we are human, level of impact of life experiences hit us differently. Just like some are deeply connected spiritually while others are along that path, so is mental matter. Some just keep walking with pain and trauma that they don’t know how to go about while others can maintain it calmly as long they are not being triggered. Due to all these experiences, our physical health is ruined. We seek medical attention for headaches, stomach upset and all that but the root cause is not being addressed. We just relieve the pain.
As from that painful experience, matters are being done quite differently. As we sat and have our weekly conversation, being truthful about our mental state has become an aspect that helps us to check on one another. A football match was conducted in his memory and probably view humans in a more alarming way. Being tasked with the responsibility of checking on one individual holistically is how we start because just as we are prompt to temptation so is mental no illness. No individual is exceptional!
we need to understand that individuals that are faced with illness, most of the time actually don't have a sense of the available options and solutions unless being guided by professionals. At that moment, from a religious point of view, imposing spiritual matters might not work. Addressing the issue from a mental perspective will aid to revive their sense of life thus it will be easier to connect with spiritual or religious beliefs.
Moreover, probably a question we need to be honest with each other, most religious individuals do their main religious duty on one day. What happened to the rest of the six days? how do you balance the triggers that hit you in your house, workplace, or on the bus?
Ideally, from our professional field, how can we support our religious center to enhance matters of mental health? How can ensure that we impact life holistically (spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically)? Am choosing a religious place for a start. Most individuals convey there for support of hope when they are still aware of the need they seek. As we work to curb the challenges with we are experiencing with mental illness, it’s a practice that can be a one-stop shop for holistic wellness, I see this as a start to mental illness recovery.
Written by: Muthoni Kamau
Published on 7th October, 2022