It is important for Christians to be loving and approachable when people seek our counsel. Here are a number of positive things we can do when someone struggling with mental illness comes to us for advice:
- Listen and validate. This doesn’t necessarily mean we have a solution. It means the person is being heard.
- Encourage the person to seek the help of a professional. Suggest the possibility of seeing a psychiatrist, psychologist or a licensed professional counselor.
- Don’t be scared. This person has come to you because you have some level of rapport with them. God wants us to help the hopeless.
- Don’t tell the person to “suck it up” and learn to live with it. This is hurtful and painful to hear.
- Show them the love of Christ. Too many times people talk about love but fail to demonstrate it. Remember that love is both a noun and a verb.
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Follow up. This means asking if the person sought help from a professional and if they are following their prescribed treatment plan.
(Source: Steve Trader, Pathways Professional Counseling)
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