How Supportive Relationships Can Help Mental Health

By Zoey Diede

Church Magazines

Those who inspire hope, lend a listening ear, and provide good counsel can be a strength to help you navigate your challenges.

illustration of a woman with a cloud over her head

Depression. Anxiety. Worry. Perfectionism. Sadness. Life can be full of mental and emotional health struggles that can make it hard to feel happiness and peace.

Many resources are available to you when you struggle with mental or emotional health. As discussed in the first two articles of this series, you can call on Church and personal resources to improve your mental health. You can pray to Heavenly Father for the Savior’s healing, renewing power to help you. And you may find supportive people among your family, friends, and ward or branch members who can help.

Carolina Perego, a Family Services therapist in Chile, compares supportive relationships such as these to a shield that protects us in difficult times: “Relationships, relational resources, and support networks are critical to our mental health and emotional well-being. Having trusted people, significant people who support us in times of affliction or difficulty, can provide security, certainty, confidence.”

Reach Out for Support

Relationships are built through “small and simple” means (Alma 37:6). It takes time and effort to become close to someone. Taking the initiative in connecting with others may help you more than you think. “As we develop loving relationships with others, our physical, emotional, and spiritual health is strengthened.”

We all need relationships because they help us avoid isolation. “The adversary wants to isolate us from others and wants for us to feel deprived of the blessings that come from relationships.” Isolation can make you more susceptible to loneliness. Surrounding yourself with loved ones is a great way to combat isolation and receive counsel, advice, or validation.

However, when you are struggling, reaching out for this support can be difficult. Nicole De Klerk, a Latter-day Saint therapist in South Africa, says, “One of the hardest things about mental health challenges is that the person experiencing them often feels that they are alone, separate, unlovable, defective, different, a burden.” Connecting with someone can help you see there is hope and that your worth is infinite in the sight of God.

Help from Your Ward or Branch

Another source of help you can turn to is your ward or branch. Susan Neiva, a Latter-day Saint therapist in Portugal, describes how local leaders can help: “Bishops listen compassionately and may offer other resources or referrals to professional counselors or therapists if needed.” With ongoing needs, your bishop or branch president may recommend that you meet with other ward or branch leaders, such as a member of the elders quorum presidency or Relief Society presidency. These leaders are called to minister to ward members and can be inspired to know how to help.

Sister Neiva also recommends receiving visits from ministering brothers or sisters. “These visits offer opportunities for companionship, listening, and practical assistance, which can be beneficial for those experiencing mental health challenges.” Ministering is a way that members can show the love of the Savior to you, if you welcome their efforts. If you don’t have regular visits from your ministering brothers or sisters, reach out and ask for their support.

The Savior’s Healing Hand

While supportive relationships can be a blessing, challenging relationships can be a source of struggle, including with a spouse, child, or coworker, for example. Stressful and contentious relationships can contribute to mental illness and emotional strife.

The people in your life may not always be equipped to help with your mental health challenges, but the Savior is always ready to help. As Elder Juan Pablo Villar of the Seventy taught, “His hand will always be there for us, even if we cannot see it or feel it at first, because He was chosen by our Heavenly Father to be our Savior, the Redeemer of all humankind.”

Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love you no matter what trials you face. Their arms are always outstretched. You can speak with Heavenly Father through prayer. He can speak to you through scriptures, by the Holy Ghost, in the influence of others, and in other ways to help bring peace to your life. Consider reaching out to someone in your surrounding support system to help strengthen you in your time of need.

Five Myths about Helping Others

Have you believed these myths?

Myth 1: I am 100 percent responsible for providing others with the help they need.

Reality: The Savior is the only true healer of souls, but you can be part of a healing community to bless others.

Myth 2: I should be the expert on solving others’ problems.

Reality: Your role is to love and minister to people, and the Savior will do the healing.

Myth 3: There are quick fixes to life’s problems.

Reality: Working through change is a process and nearly always takes longer than you think. Real change is a gradual refinement process.

Myth 4: I don’t know the right thing to say, so it’s better I don’t say anything.

Reality: The greatest gift you can give others is to show interest in them, ask questions, listen with love, and help them feel safe sharing with you.

Myth 5: If I help at all, they will always become dependent on me.

Reality: As you serve, you can set healthy boundaries to make sure you are taking care of yourself and your family. The Lord can guide you to serve in ways that strengthen the other person’s self-reliance.