Six Helpful Things to Do - Pt 2

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. (Proverbs 2:6-8 ESV).

The second practical thing we can do is to understand and support the wisdom of prescription medications for treatment of mental illness. Kristle Lowell is a world champion trampoline gymnast who also has made a significant impact in her church and community as a spokesperson and ambassador for Still I Run. She shares the following personal story in dealing with her own illness: Almost every mental health patient who takes medication has lived this moment. We look over at the clock and realize it’s time to take our medication. So we slip away to the bathroom to take our medication, trying not to make a sound with the bottle. Or we lie to friends and coworkers about what the medication is for saying “I have a headache”. If you’re like me I keep my medication in my bag and have to open it quietly, sneak a pill out, and dry swallow it to avoid detection. Why is it okay for people to take Advil or allergy medication out in the open, yet we feel shame and stigma attached when taking medication for a mental health condition? Stigma is very real and mental health patients are some of the most discriminated against minority around. If there is anyone one group that does not need the shame of stigma with medication it’s the mentally ill. There is no telling the effect people’s comments have on patients. Some people feel so ashamed that they stop taking their medication. This is something that should never be done unless consulting with a doctor. When others are courageous enough to mention that they take psychiatric medication, church members tend to withdraw, or worse, condemn. We should recognize that when someone takes psychiatric medication, it means that something hurts and life can feel overwhelming. It means that the person has known suffering, and that is a reason to come close. There are cautions for us here. Too often, on matters that we know little about, we speak with great confidence. We misinterpret suffering in misguided efforts to find causes and remedies. We can immediately default to demonic interpretations when a person’s problems seem foreign to us. Such thoughtless reactions, of course, never help. Instead, we should get to know the person, be moved by their hardships, ask them what would be helpful, consider Scripture together, and then come to the God who invites us to draw near in our neediness. He is indeed the real High Priest (v. 16). We should encourage the use of every means of wisdom which, after all, comes only form God. Medical discoveries are also a gift from God.