by Mark Willis, Stake Mental / Emotional Support Specialist

Recently the Deseret News published articles that Mental health is the #1 public health concern of this century. 1 in 4 Americans experience a mental illness or substance abuse disorder each year. Is that statistic all about people who haven’t been reading the Book of Mormon consistently this year?

The truth is that many faithful Latter-day Saints who live the commandments and honor their covenants experience struggles with mental illness or are [ still ] required to deal with the intense pain and suffering of morally righteous but mentally ill family members. Their burdens—and they are many—can be lifted only by love, understanding, and acceptance.

Sometimes we may feel that spiritual and mental health aren’t on the same highway to our wellbeing, or that if one person has a struggle with mental illness, then they obviously aren’t giving enough faith into the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I believe that mental, emotional, and spiritual health are connected, an individual can still struggle in one area and know that they’re enduring to the end.

In the Life Help Section of ChurchOfJesusChrist.org it answers the question What causes someone to get a mental illness. “While the causes of mental illness are complex and debated among professionals, we know that mental illness is not a result of sin or weakness of character. Some possible causes of mental illness include:
• Chemical imbalance in the brain
• Genetic predisposition
• Brain damage due to a head injury
• Chronic or ongoing medical concern
• Abuse, including physical, verbal, or sexual
• Trauma related to military combat
• A traumatic event, such as the death of a loved one, financial loss, or divorce, losses
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/mental-health-where-to-learn-more/2-what-causes-someone-to-get-a-mental-illness

Myths and misconceptions about mental illness unfortunately are found among Latter-day Saints just as they are in the general public.
These harmful attitudes include the following:

1. All mental illness is caused by sin. It must be emphasized that in many instances aberrant thoughts, actions, and feelings result from mental illness and not from sin. They come from disease, not transgression. They are not God’s way of punishing the sinner. To assume they are is not only overly simplistic but also contrary to the teachings of the Church.
2. Someone is to blame for mental illness. Many victims of mental illness wear themselves out emotionally by futile attempts to remember something they, their parents, or someone else might have done that resulted in their suffering. Generally speaking, the mentally ill do not need exorcism; they require treatment from skilled health-care providers and love, care, and support from everyone else.
3. All that people with mental illness need is a priesthood blessing.
4. Mentally ill persons just lack willpower. Anyone who has ever witnessed the well-nigh unbearable pain of a severe panic attack knows full well that nobody would suffer that way if all that was needed was to show a little willpower. No one who has witnessed the almost indescribable sadness of a severely depressed person who perhaps can’t even get out of bed, who cries all day or retreats into hopeless apathy, or who tries to kill himself would ever think for a moment that mental illness is just a problem of willpower.
5. All mentally ill persons are dangerous and should be locked up.
6. Mental illness doesn’t strike children and young people.
7. Whatever the cause, mental illness is untreatable.
   Summarized from : Alexander B. Morrison, “Myths about Mental Illness,” Ensign, Oct. 2005, 31–35

It’s easy to understand why someone might need a wheelchair or scooter assist for a time when they have just had a broken leg, yet, it may be harder to let go of judgements about someone who needs therapy, medicine, or different accommodations to help them get grounded emotionally or mentally. Yet, all of our bodies and our spirits are broken, needing to be bound up by the Savior and the tools he’s offered, in all the various ways available.

Care, compassion, and support are needed to extend to those with developmental delays, learning disorders, and those who struggle with suicidal thoughts and challenges. May we be more gentle to ourselves and others whom we love to encourage one another on our journey through mortality.