The importance of Mental Health was once again brought to the forefront by U.S. Olympic Gymnast Simone Biles when she decided not to take part in the U.S. Team Final due to mental health issues. Simone has pushed through many difficulties and challenges in her life and has won 4 gold medals, 1 silver medal, and 1 bronze medal. I do not know what Simone was going through that led her to this decision but I applaud her bravery. It would have been the easier path to push through since she had put in so much tough work in preparation for this moment. Yet, she recognized that her mental health was more important at that moment.

I am thankful that Mental Health has less of a stigma around it than it did 10, 20, or more years ago. However, it is essential that we continue to bring awareness to it. There are still times I hear people make condescending remarks about people who have anxiety, depression, or are bipolar but thankfully they are becoming less. It is time for us to realize that mental health is just as important as physical health. Just as we would not tell someone with a broken leg, “Well, just don’t be in pain, just think positively” or “Have you tried praying about it?” We shouldn’t do this to people struggling with mental health.

I have talked about this multiple times on this blog and sermons before so I won’t go into full details on this post, but I am a Christian, I am a pastor, and I take daily medication for depression and anxiety. For years I went undiagnosed because I didn’t realize what I was dealing with and I thought I could just get through it on my own. For myself (everyone is different) I can be an anxious person, and if I don’t monitor my thoughts then those anxious thoughts can grow, and they can become consuming. If I continue to ignore those thoughts and feelings then my anxiety leads to depression. I went through a time when this took place and I had a major breakdown in 2008 so now I am much more aware of the red flags to be aware of in my own life.

I remember when I began going to a therapist and taking medication I had well-meaning people tell me, “Don’t tell people you are taking medicine for that! You are a pastor, won’t they think less of you?” or “You can’t tell people you struggle with anxiety otherwise they may think you are not that strong of a Christian.” I want to say unequivocally that it was the wisest decision for me to see a therapist, to take medicine, and to let others know about it because then by me going first it encourages others to seek the help they need. Will some people think less of me? Probably, but honestly, I don’t care because my mental health is more important than their approval.

So, if you need to take a mental health day then take it! If you need to have a counselor/therapist to meet with then do it! If you need medicine to help you with your mental health issues then take it! If you do, know that you are not alone. You have me and many others in your corner cheering you on!