For this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, we have a guest blog post from trained therapist, Molly. Molly helps us think about practical ways we can support people in our workplace by intentionally following the loving and compassionate example of Jesus.
As a Christian within the workplace, we all endeavour to reflect and represent Jesus in our everyday routine. We have a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate the values, wisdom, and guidance of our faith to colleagues through the way we carry ourselves. But if we want to be used by God to reach others we will need to get up close to them by investing in relationships, which can be difficult if workloads and stress distract us. This is why I believe INTENTIONALITY is key!
Most jobs have some form of downtime during the day – break time, slower seasons, work functions, or even opportunities at the copier or coffee machine. It’s about being intentional with what our fellow co-workers do during that time and using the opportunity to connect with them. Genuine relationships will provide a way for us to show the love of Jesus – through our words and our actions.
“let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.” – 1 John 3:18
If you’re spending enough time around people and getting to know them, odds are you will notice them having a bad day, or they will bring up something in their life that they are struggling with. By being the person who is warm, open, and understanding, you’re not only reflecting Jesus to them but creating an opportunity for someone to trust you as a reliable source of understanding and empathy.
When you are being intentional in your work relationships, you’ll notice if someone doesn’t seem like their usual self (they could be distracted or zoned out). This could reveal that they are really struggling with something. Taking the time to ask if they are ok could literally mean the difference between someone feeling isolated and alone to feeling that someone has cared enough to notice them.
This will require us to take the time and effort to be intentional: actively listening to the language they use and really engaging in listening to understand, not to respond or fix. As a therapist, we are trained to hone in on the language clients use to describe where they are at and ask open-ended questions with empathy, that lead to deeper understanding.
For example, if a colleague says something like, “I’ve had enough!” your question could be, “What is it that you’ve had enough of?” Or someone says, “I don’t think I can do this anymore?” one could ask, “What do you mean by that?” If this leads to a deeper discussion that reveals that they are really not coping with life, you may just have been the catalyst for them to seek help with your support. If not, you’ve probably just made that person’s day that someone cared enough to ask and listen.
“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” – Proverbs 12:25
If a colleague reveals to you that they are not coping and they need support, here are some helpful ways you can approach the situation:
Respond without judgment, no matter the issue at hand.
It’s so important when people have been vulnerable in sharing, that they are met with compassion, that their experience is validated, and that the listener doesn’t make generalisations nor try to diagnose them.
Privacy is important.
If someone is confiding in you, it means they trust you. Don’t pressure them to tell you more than they feel comfortable with, and remember that their experience is not yours to share without their permission.
Help them access the appropriate support.
If they express a desire for help, point them towards established professional health services (see some suggestions at the end of the article). It’s best that they personally reach out and engage help, but you can offer your support through that process. Encourage them to speak with family and friends to create a support network.
In an emergency, take action.
If someone tells you they are feeling suicidal, encourage them to get immediate help by calling their GP, NHS (111) or Samaritans (116 123). If someone has a plan to take their own life or harm others, call 999 for emergency help or take them to A&E.
Consider how you can support them into the future.
Providing ongoing support could look like regularly checking in to see how they’re doing, sending words of encouragement, offering practical help if appropriate opportunities arise, and the most effective thing from a Christian perspective is to continue praying for them.
As we carry these people in our hearts, we may feel desperate to see them experience good outcomes and changed circumstances. It’s important to remember that you are not responsible for fixing their problem or solving their issue. You can only come alongside and support someone to access the help they need, representing Jesus by the way we tangibly show His love.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” – Colossians 3:12
As a society, we are experiencing a steady rise in the number of people reporting mental health issues. People need help! And it’s an effective starting point to know that they are seen, valued and not alone – which you and I can provide. Ultimately people need to be connected with God as their source, but you and I are here on earth as His representatives. So let’s take some intentional steps towards connecting with our colleagues and showing them His love.
Mental Health Support Services
24/7 Helplines:
Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. You can call 116 123 (free from any phone)
Open 24/7. If you would prefer not to talk but want some mental health support, you could text SHOUT to 85258
Finding Therapy Options & Mental Health Resources:
Your local GP
Make an appointment to see your GP to discuss your mental health and find suitable support.
Open 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Call the Mind infoline on 0300 123 3393 (UK landline calls are charged at local rates, and charges from mobile phones will vary considerably) or email info@mind.org.uk
Open 10am to 2pm, Monday to Friday. Call their advice and information line on 0300 5000 927 (calls are charged at your local rate)