Full Transcript for A Community Conversation on Mental Health: Science, Culture, and Healing, Part 2

00:02:06.079 --> 00:02:06.560 Uh, Dr. 00:02:06.799 --> 00:02:17.280 Tate, uh again, thinking of the stigma because some folks due to what people say about mental health, about seeking help. 00:02:17.520 --> 00:02:18.800 So thinking about that. 00:02:18.879 --> 00:02:25.120 So, why do so many, especially leaders, you know, maybe thinking of what others might think, avoid seeking help? 00:02:25.360 --> 00:02:27.199 Yeah, and I and I thought that Dr. 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:30.960 Dudley did a great job in presenting the solution. 00:02:31.120 --> 00:02:47.280 So, for example, um, there are many churches that are now, as a result of the growing mental health crisis and problems that pressures that are rising in the community and obviously in the church that do have care and counseling ministries. 00:02:47.520 --> 00:02:53.919 And so it is available to many people, and then you wonder, well, why is it still a problem? 00:02:54.080 --> 00:02:56.960 Like, why are people not doing it? 00:02:57.120 --> 00:03:01.199 Um, and I believe that it has to do with the culture. 00:03:01.439 --> 00:03:06.479 Some cultures are more receptive to going to professionals. 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:11.919 They have old ideas of, you know, if you're gonna go to a therapist, it's because you're crazy. 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:17.039 And so um, those are the negative stigmas from the past. 00:03:17.280 --> 00:03:23.520 Um, but I think society has brought us to a place where it is more and more receptive. 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:23.840 Okay. 00:03:24.080 --> 00:03:52.800 And that's where I come back to the generation, how open our people, depending maybe of their culture, will depend on how well they access, or even if there are stumbling blocks to acts of whether it be financial, there are opportunities in the church to come to your pastor to access all these free workshops that they may have online, et cetera, to get that help and support that you need as you go through a hard time in life. 00:03:52.879 --> 00:03:58.240 Um, but yet it's something that mentally you have to decide, this is what I want to do. 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:00.960 And the hope is that, as Ms. 00:04:01.120 --> 00:04:02.240 Linda and Dr. 00:04:02.319 --> 00:04:19.439 Erica said, is that the more the exposure is out there with workshops and talks and the availability of these types of ministries, talking ministries, the more people will feel more comfortable accessing the help that they need. 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:21.439 Okay, thank you, Miss Linda. 00:04:21.920 --> 00:04:30.800 Um, so for me, I think that sometimes the stigma is also because um fear of how people will think of you, right? 00:04:30.959 --> 00:04:41.839 So if I'm a professional in mental health, I'm supposed to be the one teaching and educating patients on how to kind of manage their emotions effectively. 00:04:42.160 --> 00:04:46.480 I think sometimes it comes with a little bit of shame and guilt as a professional. 00:04:46.639 --> 00:05:11.759 If I if someone knows that, oh, I had to go do therapy, oh, I have to seek out counseling for a certain reason, then in my mind, whether true or not, I might kind of adhere to the thought process that they will judge me, they will criticize me because here I am a professional and I'm not and I'm not able to cope or manage my situation in a manner that's conducive to my overall well-being without seeking help. 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:15.199 So I think sometimes there can be a little of shame with it. 00:05:15.360 --> 00:05:17.759 Um, obviously there's no shame, right? 00:05:17.920 --> 00:05:29.680 But you know, just because of our mindset, maybe because some of our own past traumas, some of our current traumas, some of the things that we've gone through in life, that can hinder us from seeking mental health services as professionals. 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:30.319 Okay. 00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:38.319 Now I remember when I was doing my BA in psychology, uh, we as students had to seek therapy. 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:40.160 So uh maybe Dr. 00:05:40.319 --> 00:05:41.600 Tate might answer that. 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:47.279 Is that a normal thing for therapists to uh seek out therapy? 00:05:47.600 --> 00:05:49.439 Oh, that that's a good question. 00:05:49.680 --> 00:05:53.199 I may not be the best person to I didn't have that requirement. 00:05:53.600 --> 00:05:53.920 Okay. 00:05:54.879 --> 00:06:03.279 Um, but I I do think even though I I've probably just to be transparent, only been to therapy one time myself. 00:06:03.439 --> 00:06:05.839 I do believe that therapy takes many different forms. 00:06:06.000 --> 00:06:13.120 You can go to a professional therapist or you can have that structure with the people who are close to you that you feel safe. 00:06:13.279 --> 00:06:24.399 Um, I think the key thing is to seek out people who are wise and um who God has used to really kind of bring revelation as to how to help you in your time of need. 00:06:24.560 --> 00:06:34.079 And so I do practice, on the other hand, if I need help emotionally, I mean, since you're you're you mentioned a personal story, I make it a point. 00:06:34.240 --> 00:06:46.399 If I see the signs from myself, then I make it a point to seek people who I know I can trust, who I can talk to, who would share the wisdom of God with me and will keep it confidential. 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:46.720 Right. 00:06:46.879 --> 00:06:47.199 Right. 00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:52.399 So that that's something that you know you you don't wait for a crisis. 00:06:52.560 --> 00:07:02.800 That's something that all of us, in terms of our mental health, like any other parts of our body, like you mentioned in the open and spiritually, you know, you always need to go through a checkup. 00:07:02.959 --> 00:07:05.360 And there again, there are pressures in life. 00:07:05.600 --> 00:07:14.000 And so, you know, we we need to access the help as God would give us that community to do that or that family, et

cetera. 00:07:14.160 --> 00:07:16.240 And we need to, it's important to do that. 00:07:16.800 --> 00:07:21.600 As you say that, um, there is a growing of suicide. 00:07:21.839 --> 00:07:35.600 Um, even in the schools, our work in the school systems, and so many kids, young kids, I'm talking about elementary school, are doing more, making more and more notes, how they want to kill themselves, how they want to die. 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:44.160 We really have to get in the habit of talking about our feelings, helping kids with resilience, helping kids with coping skills. 00:07:44.319 --> 00:07:47.439 It has to be part of what we do within the family. 00:07:47.600 --> 00:07:57.759 So we need to help ourselves get into the habit of, you know, building those coping skills ourselves and also relating it to our members, but also within our own family. 00:07:58.000 --> 00:07:58.560 Thank you. 00:07:58.800 --> 00:07:59.600 Very important. 00:08:00.079 --> 00:08:11.120 This also can lead to this question as well, uh, which is like, what does healthy support look like for someone who's always supporting others, such as leaders like yourself? 00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:14.800 Like, you know, like what does healthy support look like for you? 00:08:15.120 --> 00:08:15.439 Yes. 00:08:15.600 --> 00:08:19.199 So healthy support, so as uh uh to piggyback on what Dr. 00:08:19.360 --> 00:08:25.839 Lorel Tate was saying, that um for you look in your community, your already established community. 00:08:26.000 --> 00:08:40.080 So to demystify therapy, so therapy is just simply speaking with someone, and that some and that other person is able to challenge some of your thoughts and give you alternatives, you know, so give you alternative skills, coping skills to deal with it. 00:08:40.159 --> 00:08:41.440 So it's just talking to someone. 00:08:41.600 --> 00:08:46.399 And so that someone could be someone that you pay, a professional, or that could that could be someone like Dr. 00:08:46.559 --> 00:08:48.320 Tate said, someone with wisdom in your life. 00:08:48.399 --> 00:08:51.200 So just demyssifying therapy is talking with someone. 00:08:51.279 --> 00:08:57.039 And that could be someone who's already in your circle, like I said, um, minister, other ministers that you're talking. 00:08:57.360 --> 00:09:01.840 As long as a tool, a trick we always learn is as long as you can get them talking, you have them. 00:09:02.000 --> 00:09:03.440 It'll come out eventually. 00:09:03.600 --> 00:09:08.000 Um, so the support group is someone you already have bonds of trust with. 00:09:08.159 --> 00:09:13.519 And even if like if even someone to someone you trust will give you a recommendation to someone they use. 00:09:13.679 --> 00:09:14.720 Because you start with trust. 00:09:14.799 --> 00:09:18.960 So even before you get to a crisis, you always don't want to be an island onto yourself. 00:09:19.039 --> 00:09:20.159 That's where you run into danger. 00:09:20.320 --> 00:09:21.679 You always want to be in community. 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:22.159 Like Dr. 00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:25.120 Lorel Tate said earlier, Jesus was always in community. 00:09:25.200 --> 00:09:28.559 And he was always in relationship with others and with his father. 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:32.320 And that's the same for us be in relationship with other people and your father. 00:09:32.480 --> 00:09:39.759 So when you do have those other people around you, they can speak into your life before you get to that crisis point and need to speak to a professional. 00:09:39.919 --> 00:09:43.679 And when if you do get to that point, they can help and guide you. 00:09:43.759 --> 00:09:46.240 So it's something that you have to do, something you have to create. 00:09:46.399 --> 00:09:54.240 The the um it's a lifestyle, healthy living, healthy emotional living is like healthy living physically, proper diet and exercise. 00:09:54.399 --> 00:09:58.799 Spiritually and mental health-wise, it's always having healthy relationships around you. 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:13.519 So it's like a preventative care, it's always being around um positive people who share your same values, who you know believes the same things you believe, who is biblically based, and that way it makes it easier in times of crisis to lean on those who are already around you. 00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:14.240 Thank you. 00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:37.679 So, in the cultural and spiritual aspects, something I see often, especially among immigrants, black communities, Caribbean families, and people raised in high expectation environments, is the belief that strengt means silence, that faith means suppressing emotions, that leadership means carrying everything alone. 00:10:37.840 --> 00:10:39.840 But healing requires partnership. 00:10:40.000 --> 00:10:46.799 Healing requires community, healing requires wisdom, medical, emotional, and spiritual. 00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:56.240 So, how do each of you see faith, culture, and mental health working together rather than against each other? 00:10:56.480 --> 00:10:56.559 Ms. 00:10:56.720 --> 00:10:57.120 Linda? 00:10:57.600 --> 00:10:58.799 Oh, good question. 00:10:59.039 --> 00:11:15.440 Um so faith, culture, and mental health working together, I think that's an opportunity, the leaders in the church to promote mental health awareness within the congregations by encouraging the congregation to seek out services. 00:11:15.600 --> 00:11:19.440 If you're feeling depressed, seek out someone to speak to, seek out a therapist. 00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:27.360 Um, if it's something a little bit more severe like psychosis, obviously just encouraging them to seek out med management. 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:36.639 I know sometimes the people in the church also, sometimes the leaders in the church are not also aware of some of the services that is out there for mental health services. 00:11:36.799 --> 00:11:50.559 So I think by everybody coming together with, like I said earlier, just creating

workshops for mental health in the churches, educating the congregation, educating the leaders about what is mental health. 00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:54.639 And then also, obviously, from a faith perspective, God is first, right? 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:59.600 We had heard all of our life, all of our thoughts are um adhering to the word of God. 00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:06.720 But also from a cultural perspective, because there's so much stigma associated, like even for example, I'm Haitian. 00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:19.679 So even within the Haitian community, trying to convince, I've had cases where I've had a kid came in that was clearly responding to internal stimuli, and the mom is saying that it's um voodoo, right? 00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:37.039 So just being also able to just educate the community on mental health and also not to dismiss their cultural perspective, but just to have them understand how this particular behavior can or may also align with something different. 00:12:37.200 --> 00:12:52.320 Um, so a lot of work to be done in the community, but I think just through education, through empowerment and through knowledge, we can help to kind of foster an environment that can bring together faith, culture, and mental health in the community. 00:12:52.559 --> 00:12:53.039 Great, great. 00:12:53.440 --> 00:12:55.279 And there's not there's not much more to add to that. 00:12:55.360 --> 00:12:58.240 I think that that encapsulates the answer like completely. 00:12:58.399 --> 00:13:06.559 But I would also like to emphasize the importance of education from top down, from you know, the the head minute the minister. 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:16.559 And then if they see it as important, then it would trickle down into um the the congregation and um all those things, the education in in that manner will come as well. 00:13:16.799 --> 00:13:17.120 All right. 00:13:17.279 --> 00:13:18.000 Anything, Dr. 00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:18.480 Dr. 00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:19.039 Dudley? 00:13:19.279 --> 00:13:23.840 Yeah, it's like as they stated, it's just the education and just being creative in your education. 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:30.399 So if you know certain cultures, they're not going to be responsive if you say, you know, therapy or mental health. 00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:38.879 You just say, you know, healthy living, how to be happy, you know, use other terms that they won't that you know that won't trigger them, will not put up the block, um, the blocks. 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:41.679 Just change your language to meet meet them where they are. 00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:42.559 Makes sense. 00:13:42.720 --> 00:13:42.960 Yep. 00:13:43.120 --> 00:13:48.639 So now we'd like to leave some practical tools uh with our listeners. 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:57.600 And so I would like uh each of you, you know, if you would leave our listeners with one practical tool they can use this week to support their mental health. 00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:59.840 Um, we could start with uh Dr. 00:13:59.919 --> 00:14:04.080 Dudley, you know, whether it's rounding, sleep hygiene medication. 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:07.200 Yeah, back to the basics. 00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:10.639 Um, proper sleep, six to eight hours of sleep, getting rest. 00:14:10.799 --> 00:14:18.720 That's the number one thing you can do for yourself to incorporate good mental health is separating, um, meditating, um, and just back to the basics. 00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:23.039 Sleep, proper diet, exercise, back to the basics, physical and emotional health. 00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:23.919 Five and two more. 00:14:24.159 --> 00:14:24.399 Thank you. 00:14:24.559 --> 00:14:25.919 Well, I received that. 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:27.279 Dr. 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:27.919 Tate. 00:14:28.159 --> 00:14:41.519 All right, mine is more like back to the spiritual basics in terms of finding time for your own devotions that um consists of prayer, being in the presence of God, and journaling, you know, even as you study the word. 00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:42.399 I like journaling. 00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:42.960 Journaling. 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:44.879 I find that sorry, journaling. 00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:45.919 You mentioned journaling. 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:51.039 Uh I know a lot of people hear that word, but can you just uh explain that a little bit? 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:51.759 What is that? 00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:55.519 So journaling is pretty much writing your thoughts. 00:14:55.679 --> 00:15:18.399 I like it in devotions because um as you study like a word, um, a message, a spiritual message, you are talking to God, you are praying, uh, you're meditating on God's word, and then you're also writing it out, writing out the impressions that you believe that God is laying on your heart as well as your own thoughts and feelings. 00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:20.080 It could be your own concerns. 00:15:20.240 --> 00:15:22.960 The Bible talks about casting all your cares on him. 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:31.360 So part of my journaling is also writing, these are the things that I'm praying about, you know, praying for the health of a loved one and praying for this. 00:15:31.600 --> 00:15:39.919 I find that that allows you to release, God says again, cast all your cares on him, for he cares for you. 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:46.799 Um, you'll find that there are limitations with other people helping you, but there's no limitation with God helping you. 00:15:47.279 --> 00:15:50.320 How would you explain that to a non-Christian? 00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:52.879 How how could they journal? 00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:56.080 Because I'm pretty sure we have non-Christians listening. 00:15:56.399 --> 00:16:01.919 Okay, so like for non-non-Christians, they journaling is not a new concept. 00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:04.799 It's used very widely in mental health. 00:16:04.960 --> 00:16:18.559 Um, you journal your thoughts, your feelings, your goals, um, but especially your thoughts and your feelings as part of the expression of

what it is that you're going through, which is part of what we're talking about in terms of talking. 00:16:18.720 --> 00:16:36.960 Um, it also allows you to see where your thoughts may be uh faulty, especially as you look back on them and you talk to maybe someone like myself, then we're able to challenge those thoughts and be able with the challenging of our thoughts, like almost like make corrections. 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:42.159 And then from your thinking, we'll follow your behavior, your emotions, and then your actions. 00:16:42.720 --> 00:16:43.120 Thank you. 00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:46.000 Something we call a cognitive behavior therapy. 00:16:46.320 --> 00:16:46.639 Okay. 00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:48.720 Is that what I was gonna say? 00:16:49.360 --> 00:16:49.679 Right. 00:16:50.320 --> 00:16:57.759 So, Miss Linda, um, what one uh tool, practical tool, we can leave with the listener. 00:16:58.159 --> 00:17:03.279 So for me, it also is journaling, and obviously there's different types of journaling. 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:06.960 Um, I would say maybe gratitude journaling, right? 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:09.200 Um for me, as Dr. 00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:12.400 Laurel mentioned, CBT is a big component, right? 00:17:12.480 --> 00:17:14.079 It's like the gold standard. 00:17:14.240 --> 00:17:29.200 Just being able to kind of like process our emotions and putting it on paper, just being thankful for some of the things that we have, being mindful of what we have, um, seeing the glass half full perspective as opposed to half empty. 00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:47.279 I know for a lot of people that's difficult, but I have also, just in my personal experience, experiencing, learned that just being grateful and just coming with a spread of gratitude in writing has had a tremendous effect on my overall thinking, my perspective, how I see life, how I see the people around me. 00:17:47.440 --> 00:18:01.119 So I think journaling is definitely one of the um, if not one of the best, you know, one of, you know, a good practical tool for someone to implement just in their daily routine or even in a weekly routine, because obviously people are busy. 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:04.880 But um, yeah, cognitive behavioral therapy, that's the standards. 00:18:05.839 --> 00:18:06.480 All right. 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:12.799 Well, this is the uh time in the uh podcast where we do the activation moment. 00:18:13.119 --> 00:18:30.960 So right now you take a breath and just release, let your shoulders drop, let your mind slow down, and ask yourself number one, what am I carrying that I haven't named? 00:18:32.160 --> 00:18:35.039 What feeling am I carrying that I haven't named? 00:18:35.200 --> 00:18:42.559 Number two, who supports me and who do I need to reach out to? 00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:51.200 Number three, what should or what would he look like for me this week? 00:18:51.519 --> 00:18:56.160 What would healing look like for me this week? 00:18:56.799 --> 00:19:00.079 Let one truth rise, only one. 00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:13.119 And before we close, I want to speak a blessing over everyone listening, leaders, caregivers, professionals, ministers, parents, and anyone who has been strong for too long. 00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:17.839 May God calm the storms inside your mind. 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:23.759 May He strengthen the parts of you that feel tired. 00:19:25.119 --> 00:19:29.839 May God surround you with people who support your healing. 00:19:30.640 --> 00:19:38.400 May He give you courage to rest, courage to feel, and courage to ask for help. 00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:50.559 And may the knowledge of science, the compassion of community, and the love of Jesus Christ lead you into a season of emotional freedom. 00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:59.599 So if today's conversation helps you breathe deeper or think differently about your mental health, stay connected. 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:07.440 Follow the AAA Resilience podcast for more Christ-centered mental health conversations, and follow Roland St. 00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:12.960 Gerard on Amazon for books, teachings, and future releases. 00:20:13.359 --> 00:20:16.079 My dear panel, uh, Dr. 00:20:16.319 --> 00:20:18.720 Dudley, Miss Linda Edition, Dr. 00:20:18.880 --> 00:20:23.279 Tate, thank you so very much for putting this uh time aside. 00:20:23.440 --> 00:20:31.359 I know you are so very busy and to come on board to bring healing to our listeners. 00:20:31.440 --> 00:20:33.759 Uh, and God will surely bless you. 00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:39.279 I'll see you on the next episode with a focus on men and leaders.