Mental Health and Missionaries - No Stigma Here!
President and Sister Quinn with the Assistants to the President - Elders Caldwell, Wiley, and Poulsen
Recently President Quinn and I received a letter from a parent of a missionary coming to our mission. They were concerned that their child may be “labeled” because of a previous bout with depression. As far as “mental health challenges” go there is no stigma here! We know that depression and anxiety are real illnesses with real answers, just like diabetes or asthma or other medical issues that other missionaries come with. Those who deal with mental health challenges are among our best missionaries and leaders. I for one have Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, so I understand these illnesses.
I teach a mental health moment at each zone conference so that all of our missionaries learn important lessons on how to manage their overall health. My goal in these messages is to eliminate any stigma our missionaries may feel that would prevent them from coming to me if a mental health issue arose. I also do my best to give tips and ideas for maintaining good mental health.
Missionaries returning home this week. We will miss these amazing missionaries! - Sister Chapman, Sister Holder, Hermana Padernoster, Sister Tanielu, Hermana Moses, Sister Quinn, President Quinn, and Elders Bulluck, Semaia, and Hong
In our mission currently we have 29 missionaries seeing our mission therapist. This is about 21% of our 143 missionaries. A few of the missionaries are seeing the therapist for ways to deal with headaches and normal stress, others are seeing him to get ideas on how to navigate what we term “mental health challenges.” I find it interesting that our numbers reflect what the CDC (Center for Disease Control) is reporting that “Age-specific prevalence of depression was highest among those aged 18-24 years at 21.5%.” (June 16, 2023.) Mental Health Challenges are everywhere. We have learned from other mission leaders that they, too, have many missionaries that deal with depression and anxiety.
As leaders we have access to confidential information about our missionaries such as what medications they are currently taking. As we welcome each incoming missionary separately, we make sure to talk with those taking medications (of any kind) about: 1. how to renew their prescriptions, 2. the importance of taking their medication as directed, and 3. letting us know if they would like to privately visit with our mission therapist or doctor.
For various reasons some missionaries do not disclose their history with depression and anxiety. Some even decide it is best to go off their medication before turning in their papers (application) for a mission. While this is a personal decision, we have found that missionaries who have suffered with depression and anxiety in the past most often will need help and support for these illnesses while on their mission. Keeping them on the medication that has worked for them and knowing up front that they may need extra support, is a big help to us as leaders for keeping that missionary healthy, happy, and successful while serving.
Our new incoming missionaries this week. We are so excited to have them! Hermana Hellewell, Sister Loosli, and Elders Allred, Walters, Robinson, and Sudweeks,
As a mission leader I am grateful the Church provides resources for their young missionaries such as doctors and therapists. The Church has also put out a booklet entitled Adjusting to Missionary Life. In it there are wonderful ideas for helping missionaries stay healthy as they begin their mission.
In some instances, missionaries have found it helpful to serve a service mission where they can be a missionary while staying close to their support system and doctors at home. Recently we had a missionary choose to transfer to a service mission from here to complete their service. They are so excited about all they can do to continue loving and serving the Lord. We also have service missionaries serving in our mission. They are awesome missionaries who do a great work.
I am grateful for my opportunity to serve as a mission leader and the chance it has given me to share many of my life’s lessons, some which include, my journey through depression and anxiety to living in wellness and joy.
As some of you are aware I have written a book about my experiences with mental illness. It is entitled: It’s Time: Living a Full and Joyful Life with Depression and Anxiety. In it I take the reader by the hand and lead them along the path of self discovery to wellness and joy. It is replete with my personal stories and suggests many actions that can be taken to overcome these illnesses. It is written from a spiritual perspective. It is my prayer that not only will people find wellness but that any stigma related to mental health challenges will be completely erased.
