Nov 15, 2023 | Mental Health Ministry, Stronger Together Support Group
Hello friends,
We have many preconceptions about mental illness that we may or may not be aware of—who it affects, what it looks like, how it should be addressed—that are ingrained in us through the images we see, the voices that get (or don’t get) elevated, and the many other ways in which mental health is represented in our society. These preconceptions can make it a lot harder for some people to get the help they need when facing mental health challenges because they invite stigma, intentionally or otherwise.
This can be especially true for people in cultures where mental illness is not yet widely regarded as a treatable illness, for men who have been trained to suppress emotions to avoid projecting weakness, and for people of faith who have been taught that seeking help “apart” from God is a betrayal of religious conviction. In today’s conversation we’re going to hear from one person for whom this was the reality of seeking help for mental illness. Some questions to consider as you watch this 9-minute video:
- Do we have an assumption about what “being mentally ill” looks like? How has that changed over time?
- What role does culture play in determining who does or doesn’t get help for mental illness?
- Do we have a problem with mental illness education and awareness being overly represented by people from some cultures or backgrounds?
- What preconceptions do we have about mental health that intentionally or unintentionally create stigma?
Our warm-up question for this week is more of an activity than a question:
Choose one person in the discussion and tell us something you appreciate about that person. The more specific you can be, the better!
See you soon,
Alex
Sep 26, 2023 | Mental Health Ministry, Stronger Together Support Group
Hello friends,
Sometimes the simplest of metaphors help us see an issue from a deeper, more personal level. That’s why we’re going to watch a short video about a dog this week. [Insert joke here about how we’re not dogging it in Stronger Together, or about depression being a “total dog”, etc.]
In this case the “dog” is depression, and if you’ve never experienced what it’s like to live with clinical depression (as I have not), this is a great way to understand it through a different lens. Also if you’re like me and you happen to like dogs regardless of their coat color, you might feel ambivalent about this metaphor… at least until the end of the video.
Our warm-up question for this week:
Describe how your week has been using a metaphor. Similes are okay, too!
See you soon,
Alex
Aug 16, 2023 | Mental Health Ministry, Stronger Together Support Group
Hello friends,
One day photographer Danielle Hark found herself at her lowest point ever when something just “clicked” for her. She had been suffering from severe depression, had fallen to the floor in the midst of a panic attack, and then, “click”… she took a picture. That moment not only changed her life but set her on a course to change the lives of many other people living with mental illness.
We’re going to watch a brief video of Danielle’s story and talk about what it means to create community where (and in what form) it is needed. If you get the chance, please also check out the art and community experience Danielle founded at the Broken Light Collective. It’s an inspiring story that each of us can relate to in our own way. Join us for the conversation!
Our warm-up question for this week:
Without showing it, describe one photograph you have that you will never forget.
Apr 5, 2023 | Mental Health Ministry, Stronger Together Support Group
Hello friends,
We have another wonderful installment this week in our series healthy relationships. But we get to that, however, please remember that we’re meeting Wednesday evening at 7 pm since it’s Holy Week!
We’ll be talking about friendships: how they differ from other types of relationships, how powerful they can be in keeping us well, and whether or not there’s a “friendship recession” affecting our communities today.
To understand the issue a bit better, we’ll watch a brief video featuring Richard Reeves, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who has studied this topic extensively. It’s the perfect video and topic to share with friends!
Our warm-up question for this week:
Did you have a “best friend” as a child? What was your favorite memory with this friend?
Mar 16, 2023 | Mental Health Ministry, Stronger Together Support Group
Hello friends,
Attachment is an important concept in psychology that influences a lot of how we interact with others, from romantic partners to total strangers and everyone in between. We’re going to take an initial dive into this topic by exploring the four main attachment styles.
These attachment “styles” are often discussed in the context of intimate partner relationships, but you’ll see clearly in this overview how they shape all sorts of relationships in our lives. This is different from personality traits, which is something we’ll probably touch on as well.
Our warm-up question for this week:
What was your favorite or most memorable school field trip?
