Season 2, Episode 4: On Supporting Those with Mental Health Challenges with Lauren Bellows

Bio- Lauren is a wife and mom living in the Northeast, who is passionate about mental health. She is very involved in her church and a ministry she spearheads to help those with mental health challenges. Her “me too” approach of being able to get on the same level with others has helped her walk through the valleys of life with people she ministers to on a consistent basis. Summary – On this episode of the podcast, Lauren Bellows joins me as we talk about the struggles of mental health at this time of year, and every other. Lauren's heart for those struggling with their mental health and her ability to come along side individuals with a “me too” and helping hand is so encouraging! ~ Lauren's own story and how she found her passion for mental health ~ The importance of “me too” ~ The spectrum of different mental health related issues and seasons of struggle ~ Practical ideas on how to help people who may be struggling ~ Grief doesn't magically go away because time has past, Lauren encourages us to reach out to people we know have lost someone and check in no matter how much time has passed ~ When we are not personally walking through hard seasons, we are able to show up for others as the hands and feet of Christ ~ Areas we could improve as a Church ~ Learning to ask people hard questions (moving beyond surface level)~ Being mindful of the “Christian-ese” response and knowing what to do instead ~ Getting rid of Jesus band-aids ~ The right kinds of questions to ask ~ Walking by the Spirit as you decipher reaching out to someone else to get help for someone (and not gossiping) Encouraging quotes -“It is a gift to be able to walk beside people and actually get it.” “A big thing I have noticed is that people who have recently lost someone that they love, that first or second year after, they usually have a lot of people who are like 'oh I am here for you..” and then five, ten years later they don't. I think it's partially because we are human and have more “pressing” matters at hand, but at the same time, the loss doesn't disappear for the people who intimately feel it.” “Has God proven Himself in this before, and if He hasn't how has He provided instead?” “The Church is amazing at a crisis. It is when the crisis ends and we are walking through life and we are not able to drop the crisis, but the crisis doesn't seem like a crisis anymore to everyone else. They really struggle with that.” “I find that it is when you ask those specific questions, people are much more able to say, “you know what thanks, I am actually really not doing well.” “If we're looking for Jesus, if we are looking for answers, entering into people's gaping wounds is where He is going to be found. Not in slapping some pseudo fix, a “Jesus band-aid” on it.” “When we approach spiritual wellness and mental wellness, we have to remember there is a physical component of it.” “Keep reaching out. For people who have struggles, keep reaching out and know that if the first person you reach out to does not handle it well, it's okay to reach out to someone else.” Find Lauren on Instagram @thebellowsbunch Resource - The book Lauren mentioned was Anxious for Nothing by Max Lucado

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