Respond Ottawa hosts mental health discussion

Craig Macartney
Spur Ottawa Writer

Fear. Hopelessness. Isolation. Anxiety.

Mental health issues have become the silent pandemic, going viral as the lockdown, financial woes, and relational stress collide with society’s heightened fears. One quarter of Canadians ages 35 to 54 are drinking more and nine percent of parents living with children have contemplated suicide, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association.

While leaders anticipate COVID-19 will soon begin to wane, experts say the mental health crisis will likely affect people for years to come. Respond Ottawa wants to give people hope.

“Respond Ottawa has had many discussions in the past seven months concerning mental health and the role of the Church,” says Donna Boisvert, Respond Ottawa’s team leader. “We decided to be a catalyst in helping our churches begin this very important conversation.”

Right in time for World Mental Health Awareness Week, they brought together local pastors and leaders to hear from Christian leaders in mental health, for a time of discussion and prayer. The one-hour meeting, held October 7, featured Lindsay Mallek (a psychotherapist with Christian Counselling Ottawa), Kevin Williams (Director of Addictions at Jericho Road), and Doug Sprunt (from One Way Ministries).

“There is no way to understand the fallout of what this is bringing to the table. For years to come, lives will continue to be impacted.”

“The pandemic has brought up things people never imagined having to deal with, and they are doing it often in isolation, separated from a primary resource: the people they love within their Christian communities, family, and friends,” Mallek states. “This is unprecedented and people are working at their maximum capacity.

“There is no way to understand the fallout of what this is bringing to the table. For years to come, lives will continue to be impacted.”

But the main messages Mallek, her fellow speakers, and Respond Ottawa want people to hear is that they don’t need to have all the answers and help is available.

“We need to start with leaders understanding it is okay to not have it all together. We are all people in need of a saviour,” says Respond Ottawa member Stephanie Seaver.

She adds that Christians can make a big difference by being available and really listening to those around them.

“Allow each other to have messy feelings. Listening is the best way to love someone. Listen, provide empathy, and pray with each other. We do not have to solve everyone’s issues and have all the answers. Referring someone to get professional help from a counsellor may be very helpful.”

“The world needs to see Christ followers struggling and leaning into Jesus.”

Along with the leaders discussion, Respond Ottawa created a webpage detailing local support resources for those facing mental health issues. The page also offers video and book resources to help leaders minister to those in their spheres of influence.

“Our hope is to provide some information, guidance, and personal expertise that could birth an ongoing conversation, focused on equipping the citywide Church to minister to those dealing with mental health issues,” Boisvert says.

“The world needs to see Christ followers struggling and leaning into Jesus, the source of our strength,” Seaver adds. “Then the world will have reason to ask about our hope, and we can give the answer.”