Warning: This post is bit longer than my usual posts, but worth the read!

I’ve had my fair share of realizations on how important my personal mental health is. It wasn’t until after my mom passed that I really began to understand the importance of taking care of your mental health, just as you would your physical health. I can admit that I have not been the best at doing that, especially dealing with grief.

But, I have acknowledged the areas that I do need some extra help in and I am in the process of searching out a professional who can help me through that.

Being that I am not a mental health specialist or that I didn’t study that field, I wanted to bring in a professional, Dr. Peace Amadi, Psy. D., who could speak more to how you can identify and take the most effective steps to caring for your mental health.

What are the warning signs of someone who may be struggling with their mental health?

What are their daily habits, practices, routines? How are their relationships? How are they functioning socially and at work? How satisfied are they with who they are and how they are doing? Answering these questions honestly would be a start. What prompted my first round of therapy sessions was wanting to understand my insecurities and the way I expressed my anger. If I were to return to therapy now, it would probably be for better understanding & managing my anxiety and tendency to deal with problems with total avoidance. I haven’t had to deal with a full-blown disorder in my lifetime, but these concerns are enough for me to want to take advantage of therapy.

Have you ever received backlash from promoting mental health, especially as a Black Christian woman?

I have. I had a student once who told me she dropped my course because I’d said something along the lines of “prayer alone doesn’t fix everything” in response to her question about healing mental struggles & illness. I teach at a private Christian University and that statement bothered her. She even called my office a year later, to say that she ended up leaving the university (I had no idea) because she didn’t feel like her religious values were being upheld. She reminded me of my response to her question and was asking if I still stood behind it. She added that she was considering coming back to the university. I said I still stood behind my response. I’ve never heard from or seen her again.

*Kanye Shrug*

I can’t take back what I know and believe. We are quick to run to physicians and cardiologists and oncologists when we or family members struggle with illness, cancers, etc. We as believers have this trust in God that He can heal, but that he will often do it through these professionals. Why is it so different with mental health? God heals, yes. But often times, it’s through the gifts, talents, skills, and expertise of each other. Am I right or am I right? We should be open to exploring all the different ways healing can happen – both directly and indirectly.

Is it ok for someone to intervene if they notice their loved one behaving differently, or should they direct them to a professional immediately?

Until next time…