Kaitlyn Thompson, LMSW is a Social Worker and Psychotherapist in the South Houston area. She specializes in treating trauma related issues and is passionate about supporting churches as they become more educated in mental health issues. CityView is proud to share her thoughts on self-care and mental health.

It feels like everything is uncertain right now. We are consistently being exposed to various, often conflicting, bits of information about Coronavirus (COVID-19) and it is naturally causing widespread confusion and panic. The ripple effect of this pandemic will likely be felt for many months or years to come. There is much that can be done by the local church in this moment to stem these effects and point others to the one thing that is certain: Jesus. To do this effectively, we must give space to the inevitable impact this will have on mental health and devise strategies to be a support for the community.

First and foremost, church personnel must commit to caring for their own mental health before extending support to others. Pay attention to how you are feeling and use positive coping strategies to manage your emotions. Consider prayer, meditation, exercise, talking it out with someone close to you, playing with your pet, etc. There are so many great options for managing emotions that can come in handy. If you’re at a loss for ideas, the internet can be a great resource for discovering creative ways to cope.

For many, the current situation is causing new emotions to come up. For others, it is exacerbating an already deeply rooted struggle with mental health. As a church, we can be available to help support our community in many ways. Here are just a few ideas to consider.

Filter your speech and point others to hope:

Lets look to Jesus and guide others to the hope of the Gospel first, not data, news, media, politics of anything else that is buzzing right now. Limited media exposure is so important. We are all already inundated with news, it doesn’t have to be part of our interactions with others and we could all benefit from the break.

Love your neighbor:

In a safe way, check on your neighbors, especially the elderly and immunocompromised. They may have needs that could be filled by you. Share your resources; we are so much better together.

You may have a friend or family member that will find themselves in an economic bind in the coming weeks and months, if you have the capacity to do so, help them out.

Connect with your fellow church members in a new way:

Use the amazing technological tools that we have access to, like FaceTime, Skype and Zoom. Even if you aren’t familiar with them, try to learn. Using this technology, we can maintain contact in a way that can help us feel less isolated.

Many people are having virtual double dates, movie nights and play dates using this resource. It may not feel ideal, but it is what we have, let’s use it!

Just listen and be available:

If you reach out to someone and they open up about their struggles- just listen. If they have been isolated and want to talk about random aspects of their life or day- just listen.

For many, mental health related issues might not have been a part of their daily lives. This event has the potential to help many develop a more realistic frame of reference for mental health issues and thus encourage a greater reverberation of empathy within our communities. Let’s capitalize on that! We can use this as a catalyst for connection in ways we may have never seen before.

These are simple and brief recommendations that are only the tip of the iceberg for what a church has the ability to do, with God’s guidance. I encourage church leadership and members to come together to make a plan of action. Together, we can help turn this scary and uncertain experience into a catalyst for positive social growth.

What a beautiful way to honor our Creator.