Young Church Members Share Mental Health Stories

Monday May 15 2017

Members of the Church of Scotland National Youth Assembly (NYA) talk candidly about their mental health experiences, and how church impacts on them, in a new booklet released yesterday (Sunday).

Mental Health and the Church arose from a discussion on mental health at last year’s NYA.

The 52 short stories range from joyful to upsetting. Some young people find church to have a positive impact on their mental health, but others feel it is a place where they cannot express their emotions, or where they feel pressure to conform or to present a public face that doesn’t match their internal feelings.

Some also talk about finding it hard to adjust to changes, such as the loss of a mentor figure or a locum minister they don't feel a connection with.

Suzi Farrant, the Church of Scotland’s Young People and Young Adults Development Worker, writes in the introduction: “It is (the young people’s) hope that through the sharing of their stories, the church may become a place where mental health is openly talked about and supported.”

You can read or download Mental Health and the Church here.

The booklet was released yesterday (Sunday) which was the final day of Mental Health Awareness Week. Throughout the week, the NYA shared videos and resources related to mental health through its Facebook page, asking questions such as ‘what are we doing in our church communities to help those with mental ill health?’ and ‘what can congregations do to support the mental well-being of their minister?’

Post Tags: national youth assembly, mental health

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