Don’t forget those with mental illnesses…

I have been unemployed for over a year now, when the Christian bookshop I managed suffered from the recession, and have been job hunting during that time. One of the part-time jobs which I’ve taken on to make ends met is as a carer for those with mental illnesses or mental or physical disabilities who need varying levels of personal care. Whilst my church ran a group for those with learning disabilities it wasn’t something which I had been too heavily involved in and as a result I hadn’t gotten to know too many people in such a position. However, for the past few months I’ve been covering for full-time carers, mostly in the evening and at weekends and this has given me the chance to begin to get to know a few such people, which has been an amazing privilege.

For most of us, myself included, the world of mental health illness and the people who cope with them and their carers is often a forgotten world. We may occasionally see such a person out about occasionally but I would imagine we give them little thought the rest of the time. However, what I’ve realised as I’ve gotten to know some of the people I’ve been able to support, is that they are often amazing people whom despite their many and varying struggles often have the most amazing sense of humour and have taught me a lot about what it is to be human. When we think about what it means to be human I imagine we think of people like ourselves. When we think about what it means to have a worthy or fulfilling life perhaps we think about being successful in our careers, having a happy family or maybe thinking about those who have particularly excelled in some field, for instance Einstein or maybe the recently deceased Steve Jobs. However, if we think that these things, having a family or being successful, is what makes us truly human then we automatically devalue those who can’t achieve such things, like those I support, and they are immediately left out in the cold. We are made in the image of God, which means are characters and personalities with all our free will and ability to make choices and decisions are what it is to be human, and the Christian Gospel tells us that the more we allow God to release us from our bad decisions and rebellion against Him, the more fully human we become. I catch a glimpse of that whenever I spend time with those I’m supporting because all the usual traps we fall into, house, careers, cars etc are just taken out of the equation and I am forced to rethink my ideas of humanity and the purpose of life.

I’m writing, not only because of what I’ve learnt from those whom I support but because I think for most Christians and most churches, such people have been forgotten. It is completely understandable because unless you’re in that world those with mentally illnesses are fairly invisible. They may live in their own houses, they usually out and about when most people are at work and attend groups which are for those like them. However, if we are to obey Jesus’ commands and reach out to all people, and make disciples from every nation, tribe and tongue then we must reach out to these people too. As I said my church runs a group for those with learning disabilities and includes them in one of the services which we hold on a Sunday, I wonder how other churches do it? If your church doesn’t then can I suggest that you find out if there are people in your community who have mental health issues and see if there is a way in which you can include them within the Christian community. You never know what they might teach you!