Surviving Stormy Seas: Understanding Mental Illness

Broken minds can be healed just the way broken bones and broken hearts are healed.
While God is at work making those repairs, the rest of us can help by being merciful,
nonjudgmental, and kind.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Myths of Mental Illness

All Mental Illness is Caused by Sin
Someone is to Blame for Mental
Illness
All People with Mental Illness
Need is a Priesthood Blessing
Mentally Ill People just Lack
Willpower

All Mentally Ill People are

Dangerous
Mental Illness Doesnt Strike
Children
Mental Illness is Untreatable

--Elder Alexander B. Morrison, Ensign October 2005

Severity of Depression

DURATIO
N

ABILITY
TO
FUNCTIO
N

ABILITY
TO FACE
REALITY

SUICIDE
RISK

MILD

MODERAT
E
Weeks,
Months, or
Years

Lifts after
stress is
reduced

Handles
responsibil
ities
May
overreact,
but able to
cope

Chronic or
brief and
intense (as
in crises)
Often
unable to
work or
care for
self
Sees self
and world
in an
unrealistic
way

Reduced,
but person
gets by

Faces
reality;
sees self
negatively;
feels
helpless
and
hopeless
Low to
high

No risk, or
low

SEVERE

Moderate
to high

SEVERE

What Can be Done to Help

INDIVIDU
AL

BISHOP,
FAMILY,
OTHERS

MILD

Solve
Problems,
Pray, Work,
Read,
Exercise,
Have Fun,
Talk,
Endure
Explore
cause;
help,
encourage,
counsel,
support,
friendship,
empathy

MODERAT
E
Learn
Relaxation,
Reach out
for support
or possible
profession
al help

Support,
help as
needed,
counsel,
consider
referral to
a
profession
al resource

Recognize
need for
medical
and /or
profession
al
counseling

Encourage
profession
al help;
provide
support

PROFESSI
ONAL

Unnecessa
ry

LDS
Family
Services or
another
resource is
often
needed

Major
responsibil
ity lies
with clinic
or hospital

Dont You Give Up. Dont You Quit.

You Keep Walking, You Keep Trying.
There is Help and Happiness ahead.
Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some dont come until heaven.
But for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come. It will be all
right in the end.
Trust God and believe in good things to come.

--Elder

Jeffrey R. Holland